I would argue that is misleading only because it removes the central operating mechanism of the West’s massive accumulation of wealth and domination of global politics; namely, the ideological belief that not only are Europeans superior, but that they are superior as a function of immutable, natural characteristics that can be elucidated through reason, intellect, and scientific inquiry and observation.
To cheapen the global Western project of white supremacy by simply calling it a derivative of chauvinism belittles the intentionality and institutionalization of the cultural project and lends credence to the idea that Europeans simply did what any other group would have done under the circumstances. Besides the apologist rhetoric apparent there, it also gives ammunition to the argument that the descendants of these people hold no responsibility for inheriting such a legacy, and therefore have no incentive to stop its perpetuation.
I would argue that is misleading only because it removes the central operating mechanism of the West’s massive accumulation of wealth and domination of global politics; namely, the ideological belief that not only are Europeans superior, but that they are superior as a function of immutable, natural characteristics that can be elucidated through reason, intellect, and scientific inquiry and observation.
To cheapen the global Western project of white supremacy by simply calling it a derivative of chauvinism belittles the intentionality and institutionalization of the cultural project and lends credence to the idea that Europeans simply did what any other group would have done under the circumstances. Besides the apologist rhetoric apparent there, it also gives ammunition to the argument that the descendants of these people hold no responsibility for inheriting such a legacy, and therefore have no incentive to stop its perpetuation.