Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2012 Twentieth-Century Western Scholarly, Artistic, and Journalistic Perspectives on the Middle East: Bernard Lewis, David Douglas Duncan, and Sandra MacKey Defne Bilir Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES TWENTIETH-CENTURY WESTERN SCHOLARLY, ARTISTIC, AND JOURNALISTIC PERSPECTIVES ON THE MIDDLE EAST: BERNARD LEWIS, DAVID DOUGLAS DUNCAN, AND SANDRA MACKEY By DEFNE BILIR A Dissertation submitted to the Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded Summer, 2012 The members of the Committee approved dissertation of Defne Bilir defended on April, 24, 2012. The members of the supervisory committee were: Eugene Crook Professor Directing Dissertation David Johnson Professor Co-Directing Dissertation Delia Poey University Representative Daniel Vitkus Committee Member Will Hanley Committee Member Reinier Leushuis Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii Dedicated to my beloved family, Fatma Saadet, Ali Ihsan Bilir & Tanla, Kuzey, Can Bilir iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere thanks to my major professor and committee chair Dr. Eugene Crook. I have learned from him how to establish, maintained, and improve different skills in academia. If I had not been under his wing, benefitting from his constant support, insightful guidance, and inspiration this dissertation would have not been possible. I will never be able to thank him for his encouragement, patience, and compassionate human spirit. I am extremely grateful to Dr. David Johnson, co-director of my dissertation, for his immense support and guidance. I have been fortunate to work with him throughout my doctoral education. My appreciation to Dr. Maricarmen Martinez is endless. She has been not only a mentor for me, but also an inspiration. I would like to thank to my committee members, Dr. Daniel Vitkus, Dr. Will Hanley, Dr. Delia Poey, and Dr. Reinier Leushuis. Special thanks to Dr. Vitkus for his perceptive comments throughout my doctoral education, which have encouraged me to improve my research and writing skills. His deep intellect and dedication to excellence have been an inspiration. Dr. Hanley has provided invaluable insight with knowledge of literature; working with him has helped me to find direction in my academic pursuits. I am privileged to have Dr. Leushuis and Dr. Poey on my doctoral committee, who have supported and encouraged me in my goals. I am also thankful to Dr. Zeina Tamer Schlenoff for the guidance and wealth of knowledge, helping me through this process. I would like to genuinely thank to Sandra Mackey. Her correspondence opened my way to write the third chapter of this dissertation, in which I examine her journalistic practices in the Middle East. I also wish to remember Mary Alice Harper, Photographic Archivist, and Linda Briscoe Myers, Assistant Curator of Photography at the Harry Ransom Center of the University of Texas, Austin, where I conducted my archival research to analyze David Douglas Duncan’s photojournalism, placed in the second chapter. Many thanks are due to Louise Crook for her great hospitality while I was conducting my research in Austin. My special thanks go to Ryan Shea for his endless support by providing high quality editing. He has read every single word of this project with earnest regard, and his intellectual contributions to my thought processes have been enormously helpful. I also would like to thank my friends, Jerrie Del-Vecchio, Secil Poyraz, and Simon Dutton. Jerrie provided essential editing during the formative stages of my writing, yet above this, she has supported my dream, as Secil has. The time that they have shared with me, in guidance and in intellectual discussion, will always be remembered. Simon has provided valuable suggestions and editorial assistance. Also, many thanks to Charlene Crump, whose support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated. My dear family has taken me by the hand, in love, throughout my long journey. Being an inspiration in my life is my mother, Fatma Saadet, and my father, Ali Ihsan. In every step of my life you walk with me. When you are here you bring the soul of my longed for home country, Turkey, and memories of loved ones I have long missed. And when we are apart, you live in distance with your wisdom, support, and belief. My dearest brother Kuzey and sister Tanla, bringing Can to my life, thank you for always being there for me. Love. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................... x INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1. Bernard Lewis’ Historical and Intellectual Discourses ........................................................... 9 1.1.1. Biography: Bernard Lewis ............................................................................................... 9 1.1.2. An Overview of Source Materials on Lewis’ Discourse Concerning the Middle East . 11 1.1.3. Selection of the Source Materials for This Study .......................................................... 12 1.1.4. Summary of Lewis’ Books and Analysis of his Representations of the Middle East through his Historical and Intellectual Discourses................................................................... 14 1.2. Summary of Lewis’ Books .................................................................................................... 14 1.2.1. Relationships in Religion, Society, and Politics within the Islamic World ................... 15 1.2.2. The Rise and Decline of the Islamic Civilization .......................................................... 21 1.2.3. The Rise of the West, from Influence to Affluence—Dominating the Middle East...... 27 1.2.4. Ideological Aspirations and Political Practices during the Twentieth Century in the Middle East .............................................................................................................................. 35 1.2.5. Search for the Culprit and the Search for the Remedy in the Islamic World................. 43 1.3. Analysis of Lewis’ Representations of the Middle East through his Historical and Intellectual Discourses.................................................................................................................. 50 1.3.1. Absence and Rejection of Secularism and Rationalistic Thinking—Challenges of Modernity in Arab Countries and the Wider Islamic World.................................................... 51 1.3.1.1. Islam, Secularism, and the Modern Middle East ................................................... 51 1.3.1.2. Rejection of Rationalistic Thinking in Islam and Contemporary Arab World ...... 59 1.3.2. Transformation from Traditional Autocratic State to One Party Ideological Dictatorship—Modernization Taking Forms under the Parameters of Essence of Islam........ 66 1.3.2.1. One Party Ideological Dictatorship, by-product of Modernization........................ 67 1.3.2.2. One Party Ideological Dictatorship presented with anti-Western Islamic Sentiments ........................................................................................................................... 73 1.3.3. The Arab World—an Outlook Depicting the Legacy of European Colonialism........... 79 1.3.3.1. Creation of the Modern Political Map: “A Civilizational View of History” ......... 80 1.3.3.2. European Territorial Rule and Political Modernization in the Arab World........... 88 1.3.3.3. A Conception of Eastern Inferiority and Mission to Civilize ................................ 92 1.3.4. Decline in Islamic Civilization, Its Failure in Modernizing, and Its Transformation into the Modern Middle East........................................................................................................... 93 1.3.4.1. The Status of Women in Presenting the Decline and Inability to Progress in Islam ............................................................................................................................................. 94 1.3.4.2. The Manner of Superciliousness in Imparting the Decline in Islam...................... 99 1.3.4.3. Periodization of Ottoman History Typifying the Decline in Islam...................... 102 1.3.4.4. External Factors in Islam’s Decline and in the Creation of a Modern Existence 105 1.3.4.5. The Problem of Amendment in a New Relationship and the Collapse of the Empire ........................................................................................................................................... 108 1.3.4.6. Transformation into the Modern Middle East...................................................... 114 1.3.5. Clash between Islam and Modernity Becoming the “Clash of Civilizations,” and the War on Terror Bringing Democratic Transformation to the Middle East ............................. 119 v 1.3.5.1. Search for Culprits in the Decolonized Arab World and Forecasting