Why do West Asians still use the term “Middle East” when it’s a colonial social construct?

[u/WasteAdvice166]

I’ve been thinking about the language we use for regions, and one thing that stands out is the term “Middle East.” From what I understand, it was created by British and American strategists in the early 1900s as a way to describe lands “in the middle” between Europe and Asia. Basically, it’s a Eurocentric social construct made by European Christian colonisers who stole Trillion Dollars for their own personal /geopolitical convenience.

So my question is: why do people in West Asia still use the term? Is it just because it became the global standard and stuck? Or is there some sense of regional identity tied to it now?

Why Do people in the region actually prefer “Middle East,” or are terms like “West Asia” or “South West Asia” being used more these days?

Would love to hear from folks with firsthand perspective.

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u/WasteAdvice166's post title:

"Why do West Asians still use the term “Middle East” when it’s a colonial social construct?"

u/WasteAdvice166's post body:

I’ve been thinking about the language we use for regions, and one thing that stands out is the term “Middle East.” From what I understand, it was created by British and American strategists in the early 1900s as a way to describe lands “in the middle” between Europe and Asia. Basically, it’s a Eurocentric social construct made by European Christian colonisers who stole Trillion Dollars for their own personal /geopolitical convenience.

So my question is: why do people in West Asia still use the term? Is it just because it became the global standard and stuck? Or is there some sense of regional identity tied to it now?

Why Do people in the region actually prefer “Middle East,” or are terms like “West Asia” or “South West Asia” being used more these days?

Would love to hear from folks with firsthand perspective.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/EmperorBarbarossa]

Asia itself is itself Greek term.

[u/xorsidan]

I personally don't have much issue with "Middle East" except for when people treat it as a separate continent. Depending on how you define it ME is either a region in West Asia, or a region in West Asia + Egypt. Don't really care abt the Eurocentric aspect of it unless I'm speaking in English. As for why it stuck, Idrk. I think the Arabs call it Muslim world becuz the Islam aspect is more relevant to them. We call it ME cuz the geopolitical dynamics it came to represent are more relevant to us.

Edit: Also West Asia would include the Caucasus and most ppl don't caount them when talking abt ME. For me, the term "Middle East" functions similarly to "the Caucasus." Both refer to regions that include countries from West Asia, but the terms are used to highlight a more specific cultural or historical connection rather than just a geographic one.

[u/ImperiousOverlord]

I generally say I’m West Asian, because that clearly delineates what continent I’m from, and what part of that continent too. But I don’t make a big fuss about Middle Eastern either, both terms are fine. Although on a genetic PCA (linked below) I cluster in West Asia rather than what we classically think of as the Middle East, so your claim definitely has validity

https://imgur.com/a/vJ7m6ix

[u/LauLain]

I don't care about English term at all. In Russian this region called "Ближний восток" - near east. And China/Japan/Korea is far east.

[u/RotiPisang_]

relevant

well, I think it's all subjective if you think of it. you could turn the map upside down with south as up and it's still the same map. I think it's a matter of convention, and that we are used to it, but if there's a call for calling it by another name then sure.

I do like the idea of calling it West Asia, but it may take a while to catch on.

[u/SHIELD_Agent_47]

While I have no ties to the region, I think the main problem with using the the more naturally-fitting term "West Asia" is that Egypt is part of North Africa and yet constantly tied to activities in West Asian countries, spanning from the Achaemenid conquest of Egypt over 2,500 years ago to the Israeli war on Gaza happening right now.

In terms of practicality, I don't think most people want to constantly say all the words "West Asia and Egypt", like how the term "British Isles" over "Britain and Ireland" retains a somewhat disturbing level of following despite how disrespectful it is to the struggle of Irish citizens.

[u/Queendrakumar]

The term "Asia" is itself a Eurocentric word where Europe is seen as something uniquely special out of the continent when I'm reality Europe isn't a separate continent in the geographical or cultural sense and "Asia" is just *whatever in the continent that's not Europe *.

Middle East is similar, not unique from the problem of "Asia vs Europe."

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[u/EreshkigalKish2]

i'm fine with both West Asia and MENA tbh . But I do feel MENA takes away the west Asia part . But all my love to Central and East Asia . i can't wait to see East Asia continue rising . Also i think it's hilarious how Christianity is native & from West Asia it's foreign to Westerners europeans and american & they think it's theirs lol forgetting the West Asian roots lmfao