Global Counter-Enlightenment: Introductory remarks

Abstract

Although there is little historical evidence for a clear-cut dichotomy between Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment as two coherent and unchanging traditions, it still makes sense to talk about Enlightened as well as Counter-Enlightened currents in modern thought. Much of the extant literature has been devoted to the Counter-Enlightenment’s European context. We now draw attention to the global dimensions of Counter-Enlightened thought. Did a ‘Counter-Enlightened inter- national’ exist? Can we draw parallels between manifestations of a Counter-Enlightenment in different parts of the world?