For such people—even those critical of Western support for despots, extremism, apartheid in Palestine, mass surveillance and cyber warfare, hegemony, liberal capitalism, plutocracy, secret prisons and torture as well as the perpetual pursuit of liberation through coups, wars, drones, terror, assassinations, and carnage—these values and ideas are still somehow universal. Thus, they view Western states as effectively exceptional or at least more civilised than others. Even for the so-called progressives, despite these characteristics that have existed at least since the rise of colonialism, in the words of Joseph Conrad, what redeems it is the idea only. Hence, pundits, academics, native informants, and other experts in Western think-tanks and corporate media, hold discussions and write books and articles, analysing the pathologies of countries like Iran for the benefit of a Western audience and often with an eye towards policymakers and funders. At times they may critique Western governments, but mostly because they are not seen to be true to their values. When it comes to the Islamic Republic of Iran, though, there are no values. Hence, these people feel free to enhance Western knowledge and control with a free conscience, like their Orientalist forerunners.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 16:58:11 +0000
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