Although it has become a norm, it is indeed erroneous to associate modernization solely with the Western world. For far too long, it has been said that Africa and the rest of the world would not develop without intervention from the West. I find this very concerning and disconcerting. For those who perpetrate this claim, I ask: by what standards are you measuring that the rest of the world would remain backward if the Western world did not intervene?
For centuries, the Western world was, in fact, behind the rest of the world, considered a backward society compared to civilizations like those in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Can we then say that those ancient societies could have rightfully claimed superiority over the West? Even though they could, they did not. Civilizations that developed before the Western world’s so-called “Age of Enlightenment,” such as Egypt, China, or India, have never claimed that without them, the West would not have progressed. However, their contributions to the development of the West are undeniable.

Thus, it is indeed erroneous to claim that without the West, the rest of the world would not be where it is today. Human evolution and progress are global phenomena. The same forces of evolution that drove Western development also propelled other great civilizations, like ancient Egypt, China, and India, which achieved incredible feats—some of which still stand today. The Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, and the rich cultural and technological heritage of India are lasting evidence of this progress.
The assertion that Western modernization is the pinnacle of history, as Francis Fukuyama once claimed, has been debunked by scholars and thinkers around the world. It is not just a dishonest claim but also a disregard for the rich histories and contributions of non-Western civilizations. All societies have faced challenges in their development, but the persistent narrative that the West alone is the driver of modernization undermines the struggles and achievements of others.
Furthermore, the problem with Western society is not just its erroneous claim to be the architect of modernity, but its ongoing use of this narrative to subjugate the rest of the world. The same societies that preach human rights are the ones violating them across the globe. They have waged wars, killing millions in countries like Iraq and Libya, exploiting resources from Africa, South America, and Afghanistan, all while claiming to be the champions of progress.
This raises an important question: At what cost has Western modernization been achieved? The answer, as many—including Mahatma Gandhi—have pointed out, is that the cost has been far too high to be worth it.
The suffering, exterminations, slavery, colonialism, and ongoing neo-colonialism imposed on other nations have been staggering. Western prosperity has been built on the backs of exploited peoples and stolen resources, which raises doubts about the ethical legitimacy of their claims to modernization.
One, especially western intellectuals should not expect the west to have been mere spectators, they were bound to contribute to global progress after all races and civilizations had done the same, the ridiculousness is in the one who came last onto the scene and building on the achievements of all the rest, to claim as the only driver of this modernization we see today.
In conclusion, the myth that the West is the sole driver of global development is deeply flawed. Modernization is a global process, shaped by many civilizations over centuries. The West’s achievements, while notable, have come at great human and moral costs that must be acknowledged. To truly understand modernization, we must recognize the contributions of all civilizations and question the narrative that one part of the world holds the key to progress for all.
—Kwame Gonza
Rotating Chairperson, African Continental Unity Party (ACUP)