Kaukolännen orientalismi ja Kaukoidän oksidentalismi

Författare

• Pekka Korhonen

Abstract

Orientalism, as defined by Edward Said, in the far western end of the Eurasian continent has roots dating to the early nineteenth century. It has become a general European lism and Far Eastern way of observing other ethnic groups, among them the generalized Asians. The main tenet of orientalism is to regard Europe as the most important place in the world, and from this position any European can look down upon Asians as morally inferior, barbarous people. Very typical orientalist arguments can be easily gleaned from a random search through recent Finnish human scientific literature. This is even more interesting, because until recently the Finns were also an object of pejorative orientalism originating in Central Europe. During the 1990s a corresponding discussion has emerged in the opposite end of the Eurasian continent. What is termed here Far Eastern occidentalism regards Europe, or a more generalized »West», as a decadent, stagnant, and non-important place, which is slowly drowning in filth, crime, and military conflict. On the other hand Asians are depicted as hard-working, clean, and disciplined people. A great future is waiting for them if they stick together and remain faithful to their Asian values. Both the orientalist and occidentalist narratives are connected to processes of regional integration, where group unity is enhanced by creating degrading images of the competing group. The groups also held their historical first meeting, the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Bangkok in 1996, and an analysis of the symbolic content of the meeting reveals the extraordinarily large perception gap existing between the espousers of these two narratives.