The Oriental-despotism frame legitimized Western empire as a civilizing burden.

Evidence

Like so many Orientalists who came after him, Anquetil-Duperron was fiercely anti-imperialist. In the introduction to another work, Le Despotisme considéré dans les trois états où il passe pour être, la Turquie, la Perse et l’Hindoustan, he expressed his fear that the concept of Oriental despotism had been summoned up by certain Western thinkers in order to justify the oppressive rule of Europeans over Asia. In many respects, Anquetil-Duperron antipated the main tenets of Said’s Orientalism, though Said, who discusses him, chooses not to mention this. — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing, 223 (#expands, via linked claim)

Yet, the product of orientalist fantasy could provoke identification and sympathy, ultimately undermining any clear boundary between the colonial subject and the ‘oriental Other’ and casting doubt on the moral integrity of repressing the Other, even as it underlined its practical necessity. — Julia Stephens, The Phantom Wahhabi, 202 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Delacroix depicted the Oriental despot as cruel, powerful, and sexually deviant; Orientalism’s gendered images legitimized Western colonialism of Muslim lands. — Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, 28; The concept of Oriental despotism was devised to justify European empire — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing: The Orientalists…, 223 (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• The concept of Oriental despotism was devised to justify European empire #expands (0.95) — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing, 223
• Orientalism was internally divided rather than a monolithic colonial tool #complicates (0.78)
• Orientalist fantasy can breed sympathy that erodes colonial boundaries #complicates (0.75) — Julia Stephens, The Phantom Wahhabi, 202