From discourse to practice: Orientalism, western policy and the Arab uprisings

Abstract Ten years on since the Arab uprisings we are in a position to assess how nexus between knowledge, discourse and practice had bearing trajectory of protests. They represented hope change for millions Arabs region, but what extent was that case onlookers Europe US, did western events Middle East matter? While toppling longstanding dictators met with jubilation by populations, it conversely created anxiety fear many governments. This reflected shift from an initially celebratory commentary disappointment, pessimism disavowal uprisings. Within year, op-eds academic articles were asking whether ‘Arab Spring’ turned into ‘Islamist winter’, reverting Orientalist narratives about inevitability conflict, bloodshed sectarianism East. I argue this implications outcome as ‘latent Orientalism’ translated ‘manifest states hesitated support opposition groups they encouraged emboldened. begin article study first year uprisings, which then situate within long durée history policy representation In final sections consider role scholarship think tanks mediators discourse.