Orientalism

At a crucial moment in the history of relations of East and West, Orient and Occident, Christianity and Islam, Orientalism provides a timely account of the subject and the debate. In the 1960s and 1970s a powerful assault was launched on 'orientalism', led by Edward Said. The debate ranged far beyond the traditional limits of 'dry-as-dust' orientalism, involving questions concerning the nature of identity, the nature of imperialism, Islamophobia, myth, Arabism, racialism, intercultural relations and feminism. Charting the history of the vigorous debate about the nature of orientalism, this timely account revisits the arguments and surveys the case studies inspired by that debate. At a crucial moment in the history of relations between East and West, Orient and Occident, Christianity and Islam. Orientalism provides a timely account of the subject and the debate.In the 1960s and 1970s a powerful assault was launched on orientalism -- the study of the Arab world. At the centre of this attack was Edward Said, whose devastating critique accused Western orientalists of creating stereotypical images of the Orient, thereby facilitating imperialism and colonialism and inciting chauvinism and racism.The debate ranged far beyond the traditional limits of 'dry as dust' orientalism. As current as ever, it involves questions concerning the nature of identity, the nature of imperialism, Islamophobia, myth, Arabism, racialism, intercultural relations and feminism.Charting the history of the debate about the nature of orientalism, this stimulating account revisits the arguments and surveys the associated case studies. Suitable for undergraduate and post-graduate students of Modern history, Imperial history, Inter-cultural Studies, Oriental Studies, Asian Studies, Anthropology, Comparative Literature, and Politics. Charting the history of the vigorous debate about the nature of orientalism, this timely account revisits the arguments and surveys the case studies inspired by that debate. At a crucial moment in the history of relations between the West and Islam, Orientalism provides the context and background for understanding where the fault-lines of this relationship lie