What does occidentalism mean?
Occidentalism denotes a preference for, identification with, or advocacy of Western culture and Western-centered ideas. It can describe an outlook that treats European or American institutions, aesthetics, and intellectual traditions as universal standards, as well as the influence of such assumptions on scholarship, art, and cultural representation. The term is uncommon outside academic and critical discussion and is often encountered in arguments about bias in the study of non-Western societies. Its most prominent conceptual counterpart is orientalism: while orientalism concerns Western constructions of the East, Occidentalism identifies the Western-centered orientation that helps produce those constructions. Using the word can therefore be evaluative, especially when it describes a work or institution that marginalizes other cultural perspectives. It is most useful when an account explicitly privileges Western norms, concepts, or experiences rather than merely including Western material alongside that of other traditions.
nounAdherence to, preference for, or advocacy of Western culture and ideas. In academic and cultural criticism, it may also refer more broadly to the influence of Western perspectives on the study and representation of other societies.
- Preference for or advocacy of Western culture, ideas, or institutions.
- The influence of Western assumptions and perspectives on cultural, scholarly, or artistic representation.
"Her essay criticized the deep Occidentalism that shaped the exhibition's treatment of non-Western art."
"The curator rejected the exhibition's perceptible Occidentalism."
"Critics argued that the archive's Occidentalism distorted the communities it sought to represent."
Rare; used when referring to distinct Western-centered doctrines or orientations.
"The study contrasts competing forms of Occidentalism across several periods."
Occidentalism names the mirror image of orientalism: not only viewing the East as the other, but placing the West at the center of the frame.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does occidentalism come from?
Occidentalism was formed in the 19th century from occidental, meaning “western” or “of the West,” together with the suffix -ism. Occidental ultimately comes through Old French from Latin occidentalis, a derivative of occidens, “the west” or “the setting sun.” The semantic notion of the “West” was later culturally associated with European and Western civilization, giving the modern term its critical sense.
Related word forms
How occidentalism is actually used
A relatively uncommon academic and cultural-critical term. It is frequently discussed in relation to orientalism and may carry a critical tone, indicating bias toward Western perspectives.
Easily confused with occidentalism
Occidentalism favors or promotes Western culture and perspectives, whereas orientalism refers to Western scholarly or cultural portrayals of the East, often criticized for treating it as exotic or inherently different.