“In a quite constant way, Orientalism depends for its strategy on this flexible positional superiority, which puts the Westerner in a whole series of possible relationships with the Orient without ever losing him the relative upper hand.” The power dynamic outlined here separates the Westerner from the other, regardless of who the other is, he is not the Westerner. What is important is that they differ from what is deemed conventional by a Western perspective. It is what creates a dissonance and separation between the two groups.

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