Orientalism

Orientalism, by Edward Said, is a critique of the study of the Orient and its ideology. By examining the historical, cultural, and political views of the East that are held by the West, Said was able to traces the various views and perceptions back to the colonial period of British and European domination in the Middle East. He discovered that the early studies of Orientalism revolved around languages and the eventual translations of them. The colonial rulers could not rule properly, it was believed, without some knowledge of the people they ruled. They thought they could acquire this knowledge from translating various works from the native language into their own. In their minds, the Orient was made to be dominated. But through Said's work, he was able to point out the errors in the ways of these early Orientalists. He maintained that the Orient should be viewed for itself and its own cultures and societies and not viewed in the concept of Western perspective. Said's perspective basically led to a difference in the way the Orient was approached in studies, which led the field into a more modern approach. 
Unfortunately, Orientalism is still prevalent in today's society. From the start of the 21st century, our greatest and most feared enemies are considered to be in the Middle East. We have waged multiple wars on the inhabitants of those countries, mostly fueled by the tragedy of 911. For American and Middle Easterners alike, there is a deep rooted fear and spite towards the other. Most of the time, the prejudice is unjustified. But I think the idea of Orientalism is what drives a great deal of this conflict. It is the need for power and control that makes countries crumble and international relationships fail.