The Dangers of the “Middle East” - How the term “Middle East” contributes to a dangerous mindset

Opinion analysis by Nour AlMortada, Featured Writer

The term “Middle East” itself has no scientific nor intellectual basis: not in history, nor in geography, and certainly not in ethnicity, race, or language. And so, where did it originally stem from? Well, the answer is colonialism. The countries enshrined within the context of this term are some of the richest in the world and their history is proof of this. However, neo-colonialism, which emulates itself through humanitarian interventions or wars of interest, “the war on terror” being a prime example, continues to setback the region. The continuous use of this term contributes to the neo-colonial narrative, leading to issues such as the crumbling of centuries-old civilizations.