Sub Altern Orientalism and Counter-Hegemonic Struggles. The Construction of Arab, Chinese and Russian Communities in Chavista Venezuela

Abstract

In its attempt to pursue an elusive Modernist vision of development,the Chávez government (1999-2013) in Venezuela concocted a fresh andvery binary roster of "us" versus "them." In its counter-hegemonic project,in Gramscian terms, Venezuela has promoted a subaltern Orientalism thathas featured the demonization of the United States and its closest allies, anda rather abrupt bonding with countries and associated cultures with whichit had little previous contact, as exemplified by the cases of China, Iran andRussia. Edward Said (1978) defined Orientalism as a concept with referenceto imperialist powers vis-à-vis developing countries. However, in the caseat hand, one observes a refreshing twist: here one observes Orientalism onthe part of developing and non-Western nations in relation to a counterhegemonicstruggle vis-à-vis dominant Western countries, or what I termSub-altern Orientalism. The article shall address this incipient phase ofidentity construction in Venezuela regarding the Chinese, Arab, and to alesser extent, Russian presence.