Description

Abstract

Georg Hegel is one of the leading philosophers in the history of Western civilization. This paper summarizes his theory of Freedom, God, and the State, and concludes that the theory is not only Eurocentric but a discourse on power and domination with negative consequences on particularly Third World people. Relevant themes from Edward Said’s Orientalism were selected and used to deconstruct the Eurocentric presuppositions of Hegel’s theory. The main thrust of the paper is demonstrating how modern Orientalism impacts development theory and policy, especially in the Third World. The paper maintains that modern Orientalism is built into contemporary mainstream development theory and policy, which is neoliberalism.

Recommended Citation

Zalanga, Samuel. 2005. “Hegel’s Philosophy of Freedom, God, and the State as World-Historical Discourse on Power and Domination: The West Versus the Rest of the World in Edward Said’s Critical Hermeneutic.” Pp. 245-260 in Theories and Praxes of Difference: Revisiting Edward Said in the Age of New Globalizations: Proceedings of the Second Annual Social Theory Forum, April 6-7, 2005 (Discourse of Sociological Practice, Vol. 7, Issues 1&2, Fall/Spring 2005). Double-Issue Guest Editor: Mohammad H. Tamdgidi. Sociology Department, UMass Boston.