Decolonizing Language-The "Middle East"

posted on: Aug 20, 2025

By Rena Elhessen/Arab America Contributing Writer

From Western Asia to the Arabian Peninsula lies a land of beauty and resource richness. Except that it is not recognizable when referred to by these geographic designations. It is more commonly known as the ‘Middle East’. However, the ‘Middle East’ does not exist as a literal geographical designation, so why do we continue to call it that?

Origins of the Middle East

Because of the resource richness of the area presently known as the Levant and Persian Gulf, an era of colonization was brought on beginning in the early 16th century. The primary entities responsible for this exploitation of the land included Spain, Portugal, Britain, France, and the Dutch. During this time, Europe remained a central power in the world order, meaning language and customs would be ‘Eurocentric’ (focusing on Europe).

During this period, the ‘Orient’- a term used to describe the Eastern region of the colonized lands-was split into three distinct areas: the ‘Near East’, the ‘Middle East’, and the ‘Far East’.

Thus, the term ‘Middle East’ was coined as a political construct by the British. The ‘Near East‘ referred to the then Ottoman Empire and the Balkans. The ‘Far East‘ included Asian countries along the Pacific Ocean. The ‘Middle East‘ referred to the lands in between these areas, including the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Eurocentric Perspective

During this era of colonization, Britain had significant interests in India, which was colonized for their spices and riches. This meant that the country served a great interest to the empire. Thus, the Middle East region was a buffer region to defend British interests in India.

This term continued to gain traction as USA officers used it to describe the land between Arabia and India. It has been argued since the term’s beginning that it represents a Eurocentric perspective. The Western origins of this term have made it reflective of a Western perspective of the region.

Decolonizing Language

According to historians, the term ‘Middle East’ was not used until after 1902. While it was used by the British Empire to describe the region, it was not used by the inhabitants of the region until after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Proving that the term ‘Middle East’ was not used by people in the region until after it was used by American and European powers.

The region of the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula is considered independent from colonization nowadays, having many countries declared independent. However, there are still marginalized groups who have remained victims of colonization, such as the Palestinians and Kurds. Regardless of geographic ownership, one must also consider how colonization spreads. Colonialism remains as much ideological as physical.

Language was historically a means of control for many imperial powers. When France colonized Algeria, it forced the population to learn French. Britain also forced their colonies to forego indigenous languages in favor of English. Thus, questions of value, power, and access continue to be intertwined with language.

How to Decolonize Language?

The term ‘Middle East‘ also carries with it the negative connotations of the region. Often associated with the stereotypical image rather than the beauty it holds. In order to begin decolonizing the region, the region has to end its Eurocentric terminology.

Many countries and organizations are considering this move. India has expressed a desire to call it ‘Southwest Asia’. Many student and university groups are also adopting this alternative, coining it as ‘SWANA‘, referring to ‘Southwest Asia’ and ‘North Africa’.

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