Abstract

In 1978 the “Orientalism” book of Edward Said, an American researcher of Palestinian descent, saw the light. Its main point is that apart from fulfilling its scientific function, the academic orientalistics served imperialistic interests for a long time, creating a substantial theoretical foundation to justify expansionist policy pursued by Western states in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region. It also instilled in unexperienced people a fear of “strangers”, who had to be aggressive opponents of the existing world order. Publication of this collection indicates that the study of orientalism’s consequences continues not only in the Third World countries and former colonies, by also in Russia. Most authors focus their attention on Muslims (population of regions where Islam traditionally dominated) and migrants, as well as orientalists of the colonial imperialism era and subsequent Soviet period in Russia.

For general audience.

Imprint

Orientalism vs. orientalistics: Selected articles / ed. by V.O. Bobrovnikov, S.J. Miri. – М.: ООО Sadra, 2016. – 440 p. – [Islamica & Orientalistica].