Exploring the Western / Non-Western Dichotomy Through Liberalism and Democracy

Abstract

This panel critically examines some meanings and uses of the Western / non-Western divide, and to what extent these categories are heuristically relevant when it comes to the study of the histories of democracy and liberalism. Investigating some study cases, the panel addresses one of the main goals of the Section “Concepts in Transit: Political Ideas between Context and Universality.” That is, the conundrum that arises when noticing that political concepts acquire their meaning and force from the concrete contexts in which they are used, but also aim at being universal in reach. Therefore, the panel investigates questions such as: How do political concepts move between contexts, and in particular Western/non-Western contexts? Could we trace some continuities and discontinuities between them? If so, do continuities amount to universality? How do concepts like democracy, liberalism, or the pair right-/left-wing are re-framed when travelling the world? Which methods and precepts work better when analysing these issues?