338: Orientalism by Edward Said

Orientalism by Edward Said

Said's Orientalism is a cornerstone text in postcolonial studies. Much of western civilization's understanding of non-western cultures is based on studying interpretations of that culture rather than studying that culture. Said authoritatively demonstrates how the west's profound misunderstanding of the "Orient" colors real-world interaction between the east and west. If you want to understand how we unthinkingly make assumptions about cultural "others", read this book.

Why this is progressive/liberal: While conservatives all too frequently label progressives as collectivists, progressives are generally hesitant to attribute the actions of a small portion of a group to the entire group (i.e. make arguments based on collectivist identity). For example, progressives are more likely to say that Muslim terrorists are terrorists who happen to be Muslim, whereas the political right is more inclined to say that because some Muslims are terrorists, then Islam must be held accountable. Said explains why arguments based on collectivist identities are often incorrect.

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