Occidentalist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who studies or specializes in Western cultural, historical, or social aspects ; one who supports or promotes values, beliefs, or practices associated with Western societies
2. An expert focused on the languages, history, or traditions of the Western world ; an individual who endorses the principles and customs typical of Western civilization
3. Someone skilled in understanding or analyzing Western cultures ; a proponent or defender of Western ideologies, often emphasizing their importance or influence

Etymology: "Occidentalist" is built from "occidental," which comes from Latin "occidentalis," meaning "western," itself derived from "occidens," the setting sun, the western quarter of the sky. The Latin root "occidere," to fall or set, also gave English "occident," the word for the West. The suffix "-ist" marks a person who practises, studies, or adheres to something, so an occidentalist is someone who devotes themselves to the Western world, whether as a scholar of its history and culture or as an advocate for its values. The word's most interesting turn lies in how it has been used against Western thought. Because the suffix can name a devotee of a viewpoint as readily as a scholar of a subject, the term has been applied to people who cast the West in a particular light, sometimes with a critical edge. The same pattern in "orientalist" is a familiar comparison, and the two words are often discussed together.

Synonyms: Western scholar