are theories of "civilisation" and "barbarism" best understood as embodiments of values or of power?

are theories of "civilisation" and "barbarism" best understood as embodiments of values or of power? http://readinglists.hull.ac.uk/lists/1979D8D0-D98B-D5EA-F5C0-2C5930143D13.html please read the resource of the link, it is important.