Contending Visions of the Middle East: The History and Politics of Orientalism (The Contemporary Middle East) [Paperback]

Zachary Lockman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0521629373 | ISBN-13: 978-0521629379

Zachary Lockman's book offers a broad survey of the development of Western knowledge about Islam and the Middle East. Beginning with ancient Greek and Roman conceptions of the world, Lockman goes on to discuss European ideas about Islam from its emergence in the seventh century, with particular attention to the age of European imperialism, the era of deepening American involvement in this region, and the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Along the way, he explores how scholars and others in the West have studied and depicted Islam and the Middle East, focusing on the politics and controversies that have shaped Middle East studies in the United States over the past half century, including the debates over Said's influential critique, Orientalism. His book relates many of today's critical issues, including Muslim extremism, terrorism and United States policy in the Middle East, to their broader historical and political contexts. Zachary Lockman is Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and History at New York University and a member of the American Historical Association. He has been a Guggenheim fellow and Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars fellow. His work includes Comrades and Enemies (University of California Press, 1996), Workers and Working Classes in the Middle East, ed. (SUNY Press, 1993) and Workers on the Nile (Princeton, 1987).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lockman's book will be widely read. There can be no doubt that the subject is an important one, not just to those in the field of Middle East Studies, but to the academic community and to a segment of the general public as well. As the book argues, a knowledge of the history of Middle East Studies is vital in assessing arguments put forward by academics, pundits and politicians."
Edmund Burke III, Department of History, University of California, Santa Cruz

"...a well crafted piece of historical synthesis, based on a wide array of secondary sources."
International Journal

Book Description

Western perceptions of Islam are often rooted in prejudice. In a sometimes disquieting analysis, Lockman explores the origins of that prejudice. Central to his analysis are the intellectual trends which have shaped the study of Islam and the Middle East since the World War Two. Here he considers Said's Orientalism, and debates about Muslim extremism and 'the clash of civilizations' as exemplified, so shockingly, in the events of 9/11. Lockman's writing is clear-sighted and accessible. His book demonstrates the importance of history for understanding a people and its civilization.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521629373
• ISBN-13: 978-0521629379
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #942,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, February 11, 2010

By 

M. Aziz - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contending Visions of the Middle East: The History and Politics of Orientalism (The Contemporary Middle East) (Paperback)

I am a doctorate student and had read this book to write one of my exams. The book brings in one volume the history of Orientalism, anti-Orientalism, and the creation and development of area-studies programs in US. It presents the main theoretical assumptions, their critiques, and their change. It also discusses the main authors who shaped the field with their works and ideas. Besides, it situates these academic developments in their right socio-political contexts. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Middle Eastern studies.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Survey of the Literature, October 30, 2009

By 

simpv (SF, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contending Visions of the Middle East: The History and Politics of Orientalism (The Contemporary Middle East) (Kindle Edition)

Lockman provides an enlightening and engaging analysis of the development of Western perspectives of the Middle East. Beginning with a historical contextualization of the Greek and Roman perceptions and concluding with the current politics of Orientalism and beyond, this book identifies and connects key historical episodes of the interaction between the West and the Middle East which have indelibly shaped contemporary viewpoints. Lockman thoroughly and fair-mindedly catalogs the course of these Western perceptions, positing an accessible argument for scholars and non-scholars alike. However, the true power of Lockman's meticulous assessment lies with his ability to fairly examine competing perspectives in order to understand historical processes, challenge existing Western notions of the Middle East, and contextualize contemporary issues.

However, the book is fairly dense. In order to survey such a broad topic in a manageable book, words are not wasted. The book also reads more like an extended literature review since Lockman is continually citing the works, ideas, and theories of others (that said, it is a really good literature review!). Finally, his last chapter also loses his steadfast impartiality.

While dense, it is still accessible to the average reader. I would highly recommend this book to anybody interested in surveying the ideas of Orientalism and its implications on the Middle East and US.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Contending Visions of the Middle East, October 18, 2008

By 

Luke D. Logan - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Contending Visions of the Middle East: The History and Politics of Orientalism (The Contemporary Middle East) (Paperback)

A great read- for those interested in learning of the varied responses of academia to the study of the middle east. Lockman has done his research by investigating not only the work of his collegues, but those who have paved the path for Middle Eastern Studeis as it is today. Much time is devoted to the great orientalist Bernard Lewis and his contributions help form a generation of scholars in middle eastern studies. In addition to Bernard Lewis, Said's book Orientalism, hotly debated among scholars, receives two full chapters (one on the book itself, one on the aftermath).

This book is a great introduction to those interested in studying the middle east- offering a broad overview of different approaches and how they were shaped through the centuries while including information about today's governmental sway in institutional studies. Well written and easy to understand, Lockman has a style that helps puch the readers along from beginning to end while offering insight that is far reaching and pointed on a variety of subject. Thank you Lockman!