Universalist or Particularist?

Are you a Universalist or a Particularist?

The terms were coined by Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden-Turner in their fascinating book, Riding the Waves of Culture.

Universalists want the same rules applied to everyone. Particularists will make exceptions.

The Universalists believe the Particularists are corrupt; noting you can’t trust them because they will cut corners to help friends and relatives.

The Particularists believe the Universalists are cold, noting you can’t trust them because they won’t even help their friends and relatives.

In my career, I’ve met people who gave lip service to being Universalist, but in practice were Particularist. I’ve never met anyone who did the reverse.

Carrying the thought further, I’d make these distinctions:

Universalists are nationalists. Particularists are tribal. Universalists are more distant because they see that as necessary for the success of the large purpose. Particularists may in fact be more corrupt but they cloak that in the guise of friendship or family ties.

In-house lawyers and HR professionals are Universalists. They want rules applied consistently. Many executives, on the other hand, are Particularists and want to make exceptions.

Particularists may be more fun at a party, but I’d want my government run by Universalists.