Occidentalisms in the Arab World

Book excerpt: In the decades since Edward Said first christened the term 'Orientalism', the discourse on the West's historical representation of the East has been inundated with new literature. While the Western perception of the 'the Orient' has become a well-worn topic in the field of Asian and Middle Eastern studies, the way in which the Arab world has come to perceive the West has been largely neglected. Occidentalisms in the Arab World not only presents a comprehensive overview and pointed commentary on recent works in the emerging field of Occidentalist studies, but also provides new insight on the interplay between ideology and image in the formulation of 'the West'. Robbert Woltering offers an in-depth look at the ways in which multiple representations - occidentalisms - of the West have developed in Egypt since the end of the Cold War. From the pivotal classics of Sayyid Qutb and Gamal Abdel Nasser to the contemporary works of Muhammad Imara and Galal Amin, 'Occidentalisms in the Arab World' explores the political undertones in the 'imagined West' in Egyptian media. Through the rigorous analysis of newspaper editorials, scholarly literature, widely-circulated books, and visual media, Woltering examines the competing influences of leftist-nationalist, liberal, and Islamist ideologies within the context of the broader struggle for political supremacy in the region. Drawing from the work of intellectuals at the respective forefronts of these movements, Woltering explores the nuanced relationship between image and ideology, which has shaped the how the West is perceived within the Arab world today. 'Occidentalisms in the Arab World' provides an unparalleled and original commentary in an emerging field at the intersection of Middle East Studies, Political Science, and Media Studies.