New Conflicts, New Orientalists: How Military Theorists Reproduced Orientalism in Twenty-First Century

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 2, 205 - 227, 30.06.2024

Hasan Deniz Pekşen

https://doi.org/10.53376/ap.2024.08

Abstract

Efforts to understand the twenty-first century conflicts have led to the appearance of many unconventional studies. While many analyze the new conflicts as the method of the “weak”, others analyzed twenty-first century conflicts as the method of specific “cultures.” In this study, it is argued that many military theorists, who use the cultural analysis of new conflicts, also reproduce new forms of orientalism. Based on this argument, the study questions whether the orientalist discourse used in these works maintains continuity with the classical orientalist discourse or creates a new one specific to the twenty-first century. To answer that, first, drawing on Edward Said's and Patrick Porter’s works, classical orientalism is outlined. Then, to make the comparison, neo-orientalist theses regarding the continuity of colonialist and Euro-Centric perspectives are examined. Finally, selected texts and expressions from Counterinsurgency and Fourth Generation Warfare literatures are analyzed. As a result, it is concluded that these studies reproduce Orientalism and there is a continuity.

Keywords

Orientalism, Military Orientalism, Neo-Orientalism, 21st Century Wars, New Conflicts

Yeni Çatışmalar, Yeni Oryantalistler: Askeri Teorisyenler Yirmi Birinci Yüzyılda Oryantalizmi Nasıl Yeniden Ürettiler?

Abstract

Yirmi birinci yüzyılın çatışmalarını anlama çabaları, birçok geleneksel olmayan çalışmanın ortaya çıkmasını beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu çalışmaların birçoğu yeni çatışmaları “zayıfların” yöntemi olarak analiz ederken, diğerleri yirmi birinci yüzyıl çatışmalarını belirli “kültürlerin” yöntemi olarak analiz etmiştir. Bu çalışmada, yeni çatışmaların kültürel analizini kullanan birçok askeri teorisyenin aynı zamanda oryantalist söylemi yeniden ürettiği savunulmaktadır. Bu savdan hareketle, bu çalışma, söz konusu çalışmalarda kullanılan oryantalist söylemin klasik oryantalist söylemle süreklilik mi içerdiğini, yoksa yirmi birinci yüzyıla özgü yeni bir söylem mi oluşturduğunu sorgulamaktadır. Bunu yanıtlamak için öncelikle, Edward Said'in ve Patrick Porter’in eserlerinden yararlanılarak klasik oryantalizmin öncülleri ortaya konulmuştur. Ardından, karşılaştırma yapabilmek için, sömürgeci ve Avrupa merkezci bakış açılarının sürekliliği perspektifinden neo-oryantalizm tezleri incelmiştir. Son olarak, Ayaklanma Karşıtı Mücadele ve Dördüncü Nesil Savaş literatürlerinden seçilmiş metinler ve ifadeler analiz edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışmaların oryantalizmi yeniden ürettiği ve bir süreklilik olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.

Keywords

Oryantalizm, Askeri Oryantalizm, Neo-Oryantalizm, 21. Yüzyıl Savaşları, Yeni Çatışmalar

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