provincialized
pruh-VIN-shuh-lyzd
Definition
To cause something to appear narrow, local, or limited in scope by comparing it to a broader, more universal, or more significant frame of reference.
Etymology
Derived from 'province' (a region outside the capital city), the term reflects the historical view of the provinces as less sophisticated than the center. In modern academic discourse, it refers to reducing the perceived importance or universality of a dominant Western or local framework by situating it within a larger global context.
In the news
The author argues that transitional justice, when applied to massive global issues like climate change, is 'provincialized'—meaning it appears too small and locally focused to effectively address such grand challenges.
Symposium on Reframing Transitional Justice: Transitional Justice’s “Unit of Analysis” Problem
Read the full article ↗Opinio Juris