Framing Islam: The Resurgence of Orientalism During the Bush II Era

Abstract

Since the events of 9/11, the range of debate on issues pertaining to Muslims or Islam has narrowed to a point where Orientalist modes of thought are once again dominant. The “clash of civilizations” thesis eschewed by the Bush Sr. and Clinton administrations, was adopted and promoted by the Bush Jr. administration. Since this ideological shift was articulated by the "primary definers of news" in a climate of fear and intimidation, it acquired the status of "commonsense," i.e. a largely unopposed dominant political logic. This paper outlines five key taken-for-granted frames that underpin discussions of Islam and Muslims in the post 9/11 world: Islam is a monolithic religion, Islam is a uniquely sexist religion, the “Muslim mind” is incapable of rationality and science, Islam is inherently violent, the West spreads democracy, while Islam spawns terrorism. In addition to identifying these hegemonic commonsensical frames, the essay also sets out to debunk their veracity and to expose their fictional and fictitious accounts of the world of “Islam.” It does so by employing a historical and comparative approach that draws on 14 centuries of contact between the “East” and the “West.” While the article focuses on discursive frames that were established during the Bush II era, it concludes by pointing to their continued dominance post-Bush thereby highlighting the need for engaged scholarship that can forge a counter-hegemonic politics.

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