From Orientalism to Occidentalism: the rise of Westophobia

Résumé

This article discusses the issue of Orientalism and Occidentalism and the increasing conflicts
between Muslims and Westerners. Both belligerent parties are putting gasoline on a reciprocal
fear that is feeding both Islamophobia and Westophobia. The question raised in this paper is
whether the fear of Muslims from the West can be justified. Indeed, the West’s bloody
aspirations to promote secularism and its unconvincing claim that it aims at the
democratization of the Muslim world, especially the Arab one has led to the spread of the
theory of the West’s violent conspiracy. Consequently, whatever happens in the Arab world
is believed to be a direct outcome of the West’s direct interference in the local affairs of the
so-called sovereign countries.