Occidentalisms in the Arab World

While the Western perception of "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 provides an in-depth look at the ways in which multiple representations and occidentalisms of the West have developed in Egypt since the end of the Cold War. Through the rigorous analysis of political speeches, popular literature, and recurrent images, Woltering examines the ideological foundations that continue to shape the image of the Occident in the twenty-first century. Occidentalisms in the Arab World provides an unparalleled and original commentary on an emerging field at the intersection of Middle East Studies, Political Science, and Media Studies.

Robbert Woltering received his PhD. at the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World at Leiden University. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Arabic Studies at the University of Amsterdam. (2016-05-06)