Explain ‘Oriental despotism’.
Answers
concept of Oriental Despotism:
The concept of Oriental Despotism has shaped the European interpretation and representation of Asiatic governments and societies for many centuries. Its origins can be found in Aristotelian political philosophy. However, its meaning since then has evolved, not only due to the theoretical approach of different thinkers, but also to Europeans' experiences in confrontation with the Asiatic world. During the Age of Enlightenment, Oriental Despotism was a particularly important idea, especially for the writings of Montesquieu. Afterwards, it played a significant role in Hegel's thought as well as in Marx's writing when it turned towards the "Asiatic mode of production" theory. Finally, the concept reappeared both in Weber's thought and, in the 20th century, in Wittfogel's.