'universalism' (was Re: Asia and hormones)

[Mathew Forstater]

The most dangerous kind of nationalism is the nationalism that disguises
itself as universalism.  Someone mentioned "African Socialism." There are
many kinds and this is a complex topic the exploration of which would take
me beyond the point of this post. Let's take the example of "literature."
"African literature" is used to indicate, generally, the oral and written
literary traditions of the people of Africa, often including the diaspora.
But "Literature" is often--not always, not by everyone, maybe not by most
on this list, but certainly as a dominant tendency and an 
institutionalized tendency, to mean European or Anglo-American literary
traditions.  This is treating the particular as universal, and that is
ideology (in the pejorative sense). It is also NATIONALISM, and the worst
kind, because it denies it is nationalism, by masquerading as universal.
Now replace "literature" with "socialism" "philosophy" or anything else.

This has been the primary simple yet fundamental point of all of the
serious and thoughtful folks who try to promote an awareness of the
dangers of this, who have tried to craft alternatives to eurocentrism,
whether African-centered or otherwise.  They do not even ask that those
who want to work within a euro-centered framework discontinue doing so
(though they may examine the effects of dominant eurocentrism, especially
when put forward as superior, the negative impacts, etc.).  All they have
asked is that it be labeled for what it is, and not presented as
"universal."

Mat