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Orientalism and Intelligence Analysis: Deconstructing Anglo-American Notions of the ‘Arab’
Abstract
Despite revived notions of a ‘cultural divide’ between East and West, Edward's Said's ‘Orientalism’ has received little attention from scholars of intelligence and diplomacy. This article brings to light for the first time a number of recently declassified documents of a different nature to usual assessments produced by Anglo-American analytic bodies: those focussed primarily on the issue of ‘national character’. Using and critiquing Said's thesis of Western ‘Orientalism’ it reveals some critical and enduring conceptualizations articulated by the diplomatic and intelligence community about Arab culture such as the role of Islam, rhetoric, political motivation and notions of ‘honour’. Such a critical approach demonstrates how diplomatic and intelligence history can also be a history of culture, ideas and institutional mentalité.
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- Published online: 03 Sep 2014
Author biographies
Dr Dina Rezk is a Teaching Fellow in Intelligence and Security at Warwick University. She received her doctorate from the University of Cambridge in 2013. Her forthcoming book Western Intelligence and the Arab World: Analysing the Middle East will be published by Edinburgh University Press.
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