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Civilizing mission

Definition

The civilizing mission was a rationale for intervention or colonization, purporting to contribute to the spread of civilization, and used mostly in relation to the Westernization of indigenous peoples during the Age of Discovery.

Analogy

Think of it like a teacher who believes they have all the knowledge and insists on teaching a student who didn't ask for help. The teacher thinks they're doing good by sharing their wisdom, but they don't consider whether the student wants or needs this information.

Related terms

Colonialism: A practice of domination involving the subjugation of one people to another. It is related because "civilizing missions" were often used as justifications for colonial rule.

Imperialism: A policy or ideology by which a nation extends its power by acquiring territories. It can also include the exploitation of these territories for economic gain. This term is related because "civilizing missions" were often part of imperialistic strategies.

Cultural assimilation: The process in which individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society. It's related because "civilizing missions" often aimed at cultural assimilation.