Abstract:

Perry Anderson is not original in combing the history of modern international law with “civilization” as a clue, nor is it his initiative to critically discuss the occidentalist core of “civilization”. Nevertheless, his paper “The Standard of Civilization” reveals to us the core of imperialism and colonialism in the underlying logic of the discourse system of international law, as well as the integrated role played by the concept of “civilization”. By demonstrating how a parochial concept masquerading as universalism can define, suppress, and even eradicate the uniqueness of diverse human groups, this seminal work stimulates the imagination for a more equitable and progressive international order. Such an order would respect cultural differences and distinctiveness, and it would be constructed through multilateral dialogue mechanisms. On the one hand, this paper seeks to engage in a critical dialogue with Anderson’s work to reinforce the missing elements of his historical narrative; on the other hand, it also aims to complement the construction efforts that critical theories intentionally overlook, by proposing a theory for building a “human community with a shared future”. This proposition is grounded in the concept of civilization inherent in the Chinese cultural tradition as a guiding thread.

Key words: international law, standard of civilization, Eurocentrism