German Orientalism needed no colonies to exhibit colonial thought structures

Evidence

That Germany “did not have colonies” (partially incorrect) is an argument that bolsters my thesis to the effect that, irrespective of varied forms of colonialism, modern structures of thought operated in principle in the same way wherever they were to be found. That German Orientalism behaved differently before the Third Reich—arguing for Asian rather than Judeo-Christians origins of Germania and Europa—is no less damning, in the sense that certain components of it exhibited anti-Semitism while others were “enrolled in a highly significant revision of German rhetoric about identity formation, both individual and cultural.” — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 534 (#expands, via linked claim)

This false position hides historical change. Even more important, from my standpoint, it hides the interests of the Orientalist. Those, despite attempts to draw subtle distinctions between Orientalism as an innocent scholarly endeavor and Orientalism as an accomplice to empire, can never unilaterally be detached from the general imperial context that begins its modern global phase with Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798. — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 840 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Germany never developed liberalism as class-consciousness of a leading class — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 444; German Orientalism reproduced colonial logic without needing actual colonies — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism: A Critique of…, 534; German Orientalism stayed textual because Germany held no colonial presence in the Orient (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• German Orientalism reproduced colonial logic without needing actual colonies #expands (0.98) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 534
• German Orientalism stayed textual because Germany held no colonial presence in the Orient #expands (0.92)
• Orientalist scholarship cannot be detached from its imperial context #complicates (0.88) — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 840
• German Orientalism was purely scholarly because Germany lacked imperial presence in the Orient #complicates (0.80) — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 84
• Critique of Orientalism must begin with on-the-ground colonial practice, not texts #complicates (0.76) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 38