But that is no reason to be po-faced about it. Cynicism sells just as well as sex. We have every reason to deconstruct Western Civ, in the word we theorists once used. DWEMs merely shows some of the reasons why there is so much imperfect about it, not that we must see and praise. But a word in favor of smaller-scale history too.
All history is of course comparative history.
We have no choice. Just as the unfortunately enforced need to use words imposes generalizations on timid historians as on others, so must constantly compare to generate any historical judgements at all. And I do not even begin to tell you about the famous West Riding. Seriously, Bernie has a point behind the hyperbole. Put it this way.