Description
Book SynopsisWael B. Hallaq takes critique of Orientalism as a point of departure for rethinking the modern project. A remarkably ambitious attempt to overturn the foundations of a wide range of academic disciplines,
Restating Orientalism exposes the depth of academia’s lethal complicity in modern forms of capitalism, colonialism, and hegemonic power.
Trade ReviewGoing beyond the questions of representations of the Orient, Hallaq's work expands the scope of the critical discussion on Orientalism to reexamine the epistemological foundations of modern historical social sciences. -- Sudipta Kaviraj, Columbia University
It is becoming increasingly evident among decolonial thinkers that colonial management (with or without colonies, with or without settlers) is a question of controlling and managing knowledge, and that power differential is implicit in agents, institutions, and languages of epistemic governance. Wael B. Hallaq brilliantly drives us, through a meticulous reading of Edward Said’s
Orientalism, to the awareness that domination is grounded on epistemic sovereignty and that liberation is unthinkable without epistemic freedom. -- Walter Mignolo, author of
On Decoloniality: Concepts, Analytics, PraxisThis book is a brilliant interrogation of Said's famous concept, highlighting the extent which the issue of Orientalism is not simply one of problematic European authors, but instead goes to the heart of how the modern project itself constitutes subjects, knowledge, and power. In this way, Hallaq argues that confronting Orientalism means confronting the forms of violences that have marked modernity and been justified and reproduced across the academic disciplines. This provocative work raises profound and challenging questions about academia and about the contemporary self. It is essential reading and will be debated by scholars for years to come. -- Aziz Rana, author of
The Two Faces of American FreedomIf anyone is going to provide a nuanced and well thought-out critique, it would surely be Professor Hallaq.
Restating Orientalism is a labour of love and Professor Hallaq is clearly very fond of Edward Said and his intellectual insights. -- Usman Butt * TheNewArab *
Hallaq’s
Restating Orientalism has much to recommend it. It is a welcome and much-needed addition to the project of decolonizing the Western academy currently underway across the humanities and social sciences. As such, his book should appeal to a broad audience indeed. -- Evgenia Ilieva * Perspectives on Politics *
The most far-reaching and detailed, but sympathetic, critique of
Orientalism in the entire field. -- Bryan S. Turner * International Journal of Middle East Studies *
His challenge to humanities scholars focused on the non-West is clear. * Journal of Religion *
Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Putting Orientalism in Its Place
2. Knowledge, Power, and Colonial Sovereignty
3. The Subversive Author
4. Epistemic Sovereignty and Structural Genocide
5. Refashioning Orientalism, Refashioning the Subject
Notes
Index
