dewesternization
|de-west-er-ni-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌdiːˌwɛstərnaɪˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌdiːˌwɛstənaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/
undo or reduce Western influence
Etymology
'dewesternization' originates from Modern English, specifically the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'remove, reverse') combined with 'westernization' (the process of adopting Western ways).
'westernization' itself comes from 'westernize' (to make or become Western), formed from 'western' + the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (via French/Latin/Gk influence). 'Western' traces back to Old English 'westerne' from 'west'. The modern compound 'de-' + 'westernization' is a recent formation (20th–21st century) modeled on similar compounds like 'decolonization.'
Initially, 'westernization' meant 'the process of becoming Western' (often neutral/descriptive); 'dewesternization' was coined later to mean the reversal or reduction of that process and carries more political and ideological connotations.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process, policy, or movement of reducing, reversing, or removing Western (European/American) cultural, political, economic, or institutional influence in a society or system.
The government's dewesternization program promoted local languages, educational curricula, and legal traditions over imported Western models.
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Noun 2
a political or ideological stance advocating the restoration or strengthening of indigenous, non-Western values, institutions, or international alignment instead of Western ones.
Scholars described the movement as a form of dewesternization that sought regional cooperation independent of traditional Western alliances.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 16:23