Occidentalism - Softcover

Buruma

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1843542889 ISBN 13: 9781843542889

Publisher: Atlantic Books, 2005

Synopsis

Two brilliant scholars at the height of their powers conduct a profound investigation of the history of anti-Western stereotypes - and find their origins in the West itself.

In this book, Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit show that the idea of 'the West' in the minds of its self-proclaimed enemies is still largely unexamined and woefully misunderstood. Occidentalism is their groundbreaking investigation of the demonizing fantasies and stereotypes about the Western world that fuel such murderous hatred in others.

'Radical Islam' is generally perceived as a purely Islamic phenomenon, but Buruma and Margalit show that groups like al-Qaeda share key traits with revolutionary movements going back to the early nineteenth century. The same prejudices appear again and again: the soulless Western city-dweller, the sterile Western mind, the machine society, controlled from the centre - often by Jews - pulling the hidden levers of power, like some demonic Wizard of Oz. The anti-Western virus has spread to the Islamic world for a number of reasons, but it is not an exclusively Islamic issue.

A work of extraordinary range and erudition, Occidentalism will permanently enlarge our understanding of the world in which we live.

About this title

Review:

"'An Important book... brilliantly done.' George Walden, Daily Mail Critics' Cholce; 'Ambitious and impressive... A fine book.' Philip Bobbitt, New York Times; 'Illuminating... Succinct, elegant and challenging.' Economist; 'Groundbreaking... It is hard to imagine the reader who will not learn something from this book.' Robert Irwin, Independent"

From the Author:

Ian Buruma is currently Luce Professor at Bard College, New York. His previous books include God's Dust, Behind the Mask, The Missionary and the Libertine, Playing the Game, The Wages of Guilt, Anglomania and Bad Elements.
Avishai Margalit is Schulman Professor of Philosophy at the Centre for Rationality at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His previous books include Idolatry, The Decent Society, Views and Reviews, and The Ethics of Memory.

About this edition

• Publisher: Atlantic Books
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1843542889
• ISBN 13: 9781843542889
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176