Military Orientalism

'This important new book takes a fresh and detailed look at the role of culture, culturalism, ethnocentrism and perceptions of the "other" in strategy. It should be required reading for any strategist or student of international affairs who seeks to understand the complex hybrid conflicts in which we now find ourselves.' - David Kilcullen, author of The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small Wars in the Midst of a Big One 'This is an accessible and well-written book for a wide range of audiences. The author has a solid grasp of the historical material and has bravely tackled a contentious yet persistent issue - Orientalism - through the lens of military conflict, and the reader is wiser as a result.' - International Affairs 'This book deserves a wide readership because its main argument, that culture is neither static nor monolithic, and does not exert an unmitigated influence on the character of conflict, is certain to spark a valuable debate on the influence of culture on war and warfare.' - H.R. McMaster, Survival 'Military Orientalism seeks to expose the perils of using "culture" as a means to understanding war, whether it unfolds in the East or (implicitly) closer to home. It is a rich and wide-ranging text which displays a depth of historical reading to good effect, and is beautifully written.' - Daniel Neep, University of Exeter 'This is a timely and important book. It is timely because culture shapes the conflicts in which we find ourselves engaged as never before. It is important because smartly, comprehensively and systematically it demolishes the dangerous myth that the enemies of the West are archaic curiosities or medieval throwbacks from another era. This is a message that the West needs to take to heart - and soon.' - Professor Christopher Coker, London School of Economics 'Porter's sceptical but constructive approach to the "cultural turn"in Strategic Studies and practice is the principal argument thus far largely missing from public official and scholarly debate. He rains mercilessly on the parade of cultural determinists, though fortunately he does distinguish between cultural sense and culturalist nonsense. Military Orientalism is a beautifully written challenge to those among us who have embraced a cultural theory of strategy too enthusiastically and uncritically. This timely book is a must-read corrective to the fallacies in the current unduly cultural strategic orthodoxy.' - Professor Colin Gray, University of Reading

Patrick Porter is Lecturer in History at the Department of Defence Studies, King's College, University of London.