DECRIPT Program & Consortium (AMI-SHS)

Defining and studying civilizational narratives

Civilizational narratives are socially, strategically and ideologically constructed discourses that articulate specific understandings of historical trajectories, cultural values, and collective roles in the global order. These narratives, mobilized by "civilizational entrepreneurs," profoundly impact world politics in diverse and often contradictory ways. Examples range from the "civilizational standard" used by 19th-century legal scholars to justify European colonization, to contemporary inversions of universalist claims embodied in various government positions: the Russian government's concept of a "civilization of civilizations," the Chinese authorities' "Global Civilization Initiative," and the US administration's claim of defending "Western civilization.”

Beyond the observation of the evolving roots, contents, dissemination patterns and underlying agendas of civilizational narratives, DECRIPT seeks to examine the power structures underpinning their elaboration and their contestations. It contextualizes their historical roots and contemporary adaptations, identifies the various media, habits, and cultural products through which they are spread as well as their cross-regional influences, and evaluates their impact from local to international policies and governance structures.