Description
Book SynopsisUsing the work of Edward Said as a point of departure, this book dissects the concept of Orientalism through the lens of 19th century missionary impressions of Kurdistan. Wilcox argues that dominant interpretations of Said''s work have a tendency to present Orientalism as an essentialist practice and instead offers an alternative manifestation in which the Oriental is perceived as the mutable product of cultural forces.
The relationship between missionaries and imperialism has long been a contentious issue with many scholars highlighting their apparent ambiguity. This study reveals how Protestant missionaries can be identified as anti-imperialist in their rhetoric of ecumenical independence; yet through their preconceptions of Oriental inferiority, they contributed to a more subtle undermining of local forms of knowledge and identity. Wilcox argues that this apparent ambiguity is in part a consequence of the ways in which the term imperialism is frequently used to allude to d
Trade Review
Andrew Wilcox helps unravel otherly Orientalist stereotypes through the lens of otherwise obscure, conflictual 19th century Anglican and American Presbyterian missionary impressions of Kurdistan. In giving us a new interpretation of the intricate treasure-throve of interrelationships among deterministic Orientalists, disputing missionaries, and ambiguous imperialists, Wilcox enables us better to understand today’s varying standards of judgement as well as decipher the complicated discursive processes which undermine actions of otherwise altruistic actors. -- Michael M. Gunter, Professor of Political Science, Tennessee Technological University, USA
Andrew Wilcox’s book addresses two important issues: the question precisely how missionaries were connected to the modern European imperialist enterprise; and the related, but so far imperfectly studied matter of their place in Said’s theory of Orientalism. The book provides methodologically sophisticated perspectives on both that will excite specialist and educated readers alike. -- Geoffrey Nash, Senior Lecturer in Literature, University of Sunderland, UK
In this richly researched cultural history, Andrew Wilcox refines our understanding of the contours of Orientalism, revealing orders of distinction, complexity, and even contradiction that can’t but sharpen our analysis of empire’s variegated past and ongoing present. -- Keith P. Feldman, Associate Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA
Table of Contents
Series Forward Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. A Lack of Consensus 3. Orientalism Through a Lens 4. Agents of Imperialism? 5. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
