Westophobia and the clash of civilizations rhetoric: a critical discourse analysis of misrepresented Western quotations in Arabic Islamic scholarship

This paper examines the construction and perpetuation of Westophobia in Arabic Muslim narratives using CDA of the clash of civilization rhetoric. Drawing on van Dijk’s model, the study aims to uncover the Us Vs. Them dimension imbued in these narratives and understand how language shapes the conflict and contributes to the construction of this dichotomy. Drawing on Teun A. van Dijk’s (2000) ‘Ideological Square’ model, the study analyzes how specific discursive strategies, including lexicon, syntax, and rhetorical figures, contribute to the creation of an ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality. By examining a corpus of Arabic scholarly works, the analysis reveals how misrepresentations/mistranslation of Western figures and their statements fuel the clash of civilization rhetoric and reinforce negative stereotypes about the West. The discursive strategies employed in these narratives highlight how Westophobia is constructed linguistically. The findings highlight the importance of critically examining discursive practices in intercultural communication to uncover the underlying ideological structures that shape our understanding of the ‘Other’.