Occidentalisms. Images of 'the West' in Egypt

Abstract

This thesis researches images of ‘the West’ in contemporary Egyptian non-fiction. These images – or: Occidentalisms - are found to have a history going back to the early nineteenth century, and are clearly related to political and social developments in Egypt and the wider Arab world, in which European and other Western powers have played a role. Occidentalisms are additionally found to be influenced by the ideological background from which the images are crafted. This is shown by a threefold analysis in which Islamist, Liberal and Nationalist-Leftist publications are analyzed and compared. Three contemporary intellectuals are made to stand as representatives of each ideological discourse, respectively: Muhammad Imara; Rida Hilal; and Galal Amin. Their work is researched in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how the West is imagined, whereas the other material provides a broad overview. The book ends with a comparison of Orientalism and Occidentalism.