Racism vs. Ethnocentrism: Definitions, Relationship, and Causality

While both ethnocentrism and racism are rooted in a belief in the superiority of one’s own group, they are distinct concepts with different foundations and consequences.

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own culture, customs, and values are superior to those of other cultures. It is the practice of judging other cultures by the standards and norms of one’s own. It is primarily a cultural bias, often arising from a lack of exposure to other ways of life.

• Example: A person from a Western country traveling to an Asian country and believing that eating with chopsticks is “uncivilized” or “primitive” compared to using a fork and knife. The judgment is based on a cultural standard—dining etiquette—not a racial one.

Racism is a system of prejudice and discrimination based on the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Unlike ethnocentrism, racism is not just an individual belief; it is a system of power that uses racial distinctions to justify social, economic, and political oppression. It is prejudice combined with institutional power.

• Example: The practice of “redlining,” where banks systematically denied loans and financial services to people in neighborhoods with a high concentration of racial minorities, regardless of their individual creditworthiness. This is not just a cultural judgment; it is a system of discrimination based on race.

Relationship and Causality:

The relationship between these two concepts is cyclical and mutually reinforcing. Racism often leads to ethnocentric beliefs, and ethnocentrism can be a building block for racism.

• Racism leading to ethnocentrism: A system of racism, which seeks to oppress a group based on race, will often use ethnocentric beliefs to justify its actions. For instance, in a racist society, the dominant group might promote its own cultural norms, language, and social values as the only “correct” ones, framing the culture of the marginalized group as inherently inferior. This allows the system of racial oppression to be presented as a legitimate cultural hierarchy.