Friday, April 25, 2008

Isn't It Great to be Eurocentric?

There are certain beliefs, valid or otherwise, that have led Eurocentric thinkers toward ignoring, undervaluing, or condemning non-European societies. There is a wide range of these, some applying more broadly in chronological terms than others. They include the following:

Non-European societies tend to be despotic and servile, as against the West's freedom and individualism.
Non-European societies are Islamic, or pagan, or believe in strange religions, which are inferior to Christianity, or lack its truth.
Non-European societies are cruel and lack concern for human life. They practice barbaric customs toward women, such as female genital mutilation (north Africa), widow-burning (sati, India) or foot-binding (China).
Non-European societies are inflexible and unchanging. Some European thinkers have attributed this lack of change to topography or climate, for instance extreme dependence on a major river, such as the Nile or the Yellow River, or extreme heat or dryness.
Non-European societies are poor, backward, and underdeveloped, as opposed to the industrialized, progressive, and rich West.
Non-European societies lack rational modes of thinking and scientific approaches.


I would just like to know which one of those things isn't true.