(Person) Percentage - Sabanci University Research Database

The Asian Media & Mass Communication Conference 2010 Osaka, Japan
‘former colonialists,’ he asked are not their rule dictatorial and oppressive and have they just
not invaded a weak country 26 killing civilians in order to gain power over that country?
Calling on the West to reflect upon themselves, he asks the Europeans to
L)ook first in the mirror. The problem with the Europeans is that they award
themselves the right to judge over their own views.
By Way of a Conclusion
In countering the rather simplistic and reductionist nature on previous observations on Dr.
Mahathir’s engagement with the West, this study shows the complexity of the discourse. It is
quite clear that we need to comprehend the context, and re-read his discourse over time. Dr.
Mahathir understands history and is ever-conscious of developments and ideas in European
civilization especially in the early modern and modern periods. His reminders on colonialism
and domination and concern over human rights evokes a conscience that feeds on peace and
co-existence. What is significant isthat a dialogical reading of his discourse informs us of the
concern for self and nation building by the process of locating Europe and the Occident as the
other.
26 Referring to the invasion of Iraq by the West in 2002.
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