Al-Mustashraq is Arabic for "Orientalist," the common term for a person (usually a Westerner) who has made a serious study of the Middle East and Orient. The suffix -at denotes the feminine plural, because the authors of this blog are both female.
The term "orientalist" has some negative connotations in some circles because through the years most orientalists have cultivated an unhealthy pro-Western, anti-Eastern bias bordering on cultural imperialism. We have chosen this term for our blog not because we embrace this philosophy but rather because we disagree with it. We beleive that one can be an "orientalist" and still love and Respect the Middle East.
The goal of this blog is to make Middle Eastern politics and culture accessible to the average American. The news media constantly features issues pertaining to the Middle East, North Africa, and the greater Islamic world, but offers little context for events. We aim to provide at least a little context. There is so much more to the Middle East than oil and corrupt politicians and terrorism. Most American news media tells only one side of the story, or only parts of the story. We, al-Mustashraqat, aim to fill in the gaps. There is beauty, majesty, nobility, and several thousand years of rich history.
