Edward Said’s ”Orientalism” (Part 1/3)

The podcast discusses Edward Said's 'Orientalism' and its exploration of Europe's portrayal of the Middle East. It analyzes the concept of Orientalism as a means for Europe to establish superiority and examines the impact of corporate interests and biased text selection. The tension between Arthur Balfour and Lord Chromar regarding colonialism is also explored. The chapter highlights the distribution of European exceptionalism and the emergence of Orientalist beliefs. It critiques Edward Said's suggestion that such distinctions are natural and discusses the demonization of Islamic countries. The strategies used by European countries to control the Orient are also examined.