Asian Xenophobia Against the West

Asian xenophobia against the West exists—fear and hatred of the stranger is a reality, and there are historical reasons for its being. The initial contacts between Easterners and Westerners were friendly ones; there was a feeling of mu tual respect and trust. But later things changed with the Westerners taking a posture of superiority. Fortresses gradu ally became more numerous than trading posts, and soldiers outnumbered merchants. Agreements were broken and sus picion and loss of friendships resulted. After the Indian Mu tiny or War of Independence, the British withdrew from the life of India and created their own superstructure. There was to be no more mixing with natives—it just was not done any more. This was the attitude of other imperial powers as well. Time then began to stand still for Asians with their culture and tradi tions pushed in the background. The ruling powers educated and trained a small group of "reliable natives" and gave them positions of trust in the government. There resulted a class which was neither Asian nor European. However, it was this very training in Western ways which fanned the flame of Asian nationalism. Asians then found that well being and progress did not necessarily go hand in hand with independence. Their countries had stood still for 400 years, and they blamed the West for this—and so this fear and hatred of the stranger who had been the ruler. Asian xenophobia of the West has taken three forms: political, religious, and cultural. The Asians are becoming aware that this attitude hurts them more than it does the West—moreover, it is a recent thing and alien to their thinking. And so there is hope that this xenophobia will eventually disappear.—Ed

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