The orientalist opposed Westernization despite being funded by his own government

Evidence

Probably—and this is only a speculation—the convergence occurred when Orientalists, beginning with Sacy, undertook to advise governments on what the modern Orient was all about. Here the role of the specially trained and equipped expert took on an added dimension: the Orientalist could be regarded as the special agent of Western power as it attempted policy vis-à-vis the Orient. Every learned (and not so learned) European traveler in the Orient felt himself to be a representative Westerner who had gotten beneath the films of obscurity. — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 559 (#complicates, via linked claim)

It is therefore not surprising that the field of Islamic and Arabic Orientalism, always ready to deny its complicity with state power, had never until very recently produced an internal critique of the affiliations I have just been describing, and that Lewis can utter the amazing statement that a criticism of Orientalism would be “meaningless.” — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 866 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The Orientalist became an agent of Western power when he began advising governments — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 559; Orientalism’s practitioners deny their complicity with state power — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 866; Early Orientalists had to disavow Islam’s influence to remain acceptable to Europe — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 198

Broader Connections

• The Orientalist became an agent of Western power when he began advising governments #complicates (0.82) — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 559
• Orientalism’s practitioners deny their complicity with state power #complicates (0.78) — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 866