‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’: Things I learned writing about the #MiddleEast Question terminology To start with, the term Middle East is itself highly questionable. It is arbitrary, and can only be understood within proximity to some other entity, Europe, which colonial endeavours imposed such classifications on the rest of the word. Colonial Europe was the centre of the globe and everything else was measured in physical and political distance from the dominating continent. Western interests in the region never waned. In fact, following US-led wars on Iraq (1990-91), a decade-long blockade, followed by a massive war and invasion (2003), the “Middle East” is back at the centre of neocolonial activities, colossal western economic interests, strategic and political manoeuvring. To question the term “Middle East” is to become conscious of the colonial history, and the enduringly fierce economic and political competition, which is felt in every facet of life in the region. Then, learn to question many other terms: extremist, radical, moderate, terrorist, pro-western, liberal, socialist, Islamist, Islamic, anti-Islamist, secularist, and so on. These are mostly misleading labels. They might not mean at all what you think they do. Their use is often political as opposed to direct reference to an ideological or political position. middleeasteye.net/columns/dos-and-don-ts-things-i-learned-writing-about-middle-east-2105547122
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 19:24:34 +0000
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