Abstract
The theme of this chapter is the idea of Europe as an expression of western civilisation. One of the central contentions of this book is that the idea of Europe found its most enduring expression in the confrontation with the Orient in the age of imperialism. It was in the encounter with other civilisations that the identity of Europe was shaped. Europe did not derive its identity from itself but from the formation of a set of global contrasts. In the discourse that sustained this dichotomy of Self and Other, Europe and the Orient were opposite poles in a system of civilisational values which were defined by Europe.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1995 Gerard Delanty
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Delanty, G. (1995). Europe in the Mirror of the Orient. In: Inventing Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230379657_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230379657_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-62203-2
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-37965-7
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)