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This essay deals with the confrontation between universalistic and particularistic principles with regard to collective identities and nationalities in the Third World. Universalistic principles are based on the 18th century rationalism; its most important representative in the field of comparative world history was the Marquis of Condorcet. This current makes no difference between natural and social sciences and does not care for national singularities. Particularistic tendencies are based on relativism. They seek to understand each case by reconstructing ist history. Two moderate representatives of this tendency were G.B. Vico and J.G. Herder. Making a critique of both tendencies the author attempts at a prolific synthesis of them, which are considered as complementary. For instance universal ethics and human rights could build the fundamentals for an effective right to difference.
