Part 1, The Scope of Orientalism: Knowing the Oriental Summary and Analysis

The book opens with a comment by Arthur James Balfour from June 13, 1910 on dealing with the problems in Egypt. Questioning the British role in Egypt, he discusses before the House of Commons how the problems are different than dealing with problems closer to home. There is apparently some dissension in the House of Commons as to what exactly the British role is. Was it necessary for the British to be in Egypt? Balfour uses the terms Oriental in describing the people of Egypt as he tries to justify the British occupation of Egypt and comments that none of the Oriental peoples have ever had their own government - they have always been dominated by despots. He doesn't consider letting the Egyptian speak for himself. As much as...