I wish you would have clearly delineated abstract philosophy from political philosophy. Political philosophy identifies the relationship of the individual to the state, while more abstract philosophy identifies the individual's relationship to nature (God), other people, society, and oneself. Maybe the subtitle should be 'An Individual's relationship to the state' ?

In terms of Western individualism in relationship to the state, I think it all comes from Roman times. Rome underwent three phases: heroic, administrative, and mystical. In the heroic phase people were individuals and had rights and responsibilities to the state (Republic). In the administrative phase, people were subordinate to the state, (Empire). In the mystical phase, (Christianity) people's wants, needs, and desires were controlled by imposing religious doctrine on the individual. ( I think this theory comes from Oswald Spengler, but I can't remember...)