Problem
Eurocentrism
Other Names:
Western provincialismExcessive bias in favour of European and Western culture
Nature:
The implicit, or explicit, assumption that European (or Euro-American) perspectives are in some way superior to those centred on other cultures or regions and as such deserves a privileged position in society and policy-making. This is sustained by the belief that Europe was the primary focal point of human history.
Background:
Development theory for a long time differentiated between two oppositional approaches, modernisation theory and dependency or world systems theory. The discourse of modernisation theory implicitly proclaims that the so-called "developed" world is superior to all "non-western" and "late-industrialising" countries. This resulted in a constant application of Eurocentric attitudes.
Narrower Problems:
Westernization of traditional modes of life in developing countries Related Problems:
CapitalismAfrocentrism Aggravates:
End of historyGlobal KeynesianismCulturally biased religionInternational aid paternalismType 2 diabetesDistorted exclusiveness of social groupsPreponderance of Western-style organizationsOver-centralization of global decision-makingImposition of national priorities on other countriesInappropriate projection of values onto other culturesOccidentalism Reduced By:
Disproportionate ethnic population growthSubject(s):
Societal Problems → ImbalancesCulture → Culture
Policy-making → Policy
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
27.11.2017 – 16:40 CET