The Waning of Universalism
During the 19th century, Westerners provided ideological justifications for their colonization, namely spreading the Enlightenment across the globe.
This project was received favorably until the second half of the 20th century. Over the last 20 years, it has met new hostility. The “universal values” promoted by the West are viewed today as a form of imperialism to be opposed – especially by China, Russia and Turkey.
Chantal Delsol is professor emeritus of philosophy and member of the Académie des sciences morales et politiques. She published La Haine du monde. Totalitarismes et postmodernité, Paris: éditions du Cerf, 2016.
Article published in Politique étrangère, Vol. 84, No 1, Spring 2019