Unveiling the Truth: Jocelyne Dakhlia's Latest Work Challenges Orientalist Stereotypes
The Institute of Research on Contemporary Maghreb (IRMC) hosted the presentation of historian and anthropologist Jocelyne Dakhlia's latest book, "Harems and Sultans: Gender and Despotism in Morocco and Beyond, 14th-20th centuries," on November 6.
About the Author
Jocelyne Dakhlia, of French-Tunisian origin, is a specialist in the political history of the Maghreb and the Mediterranean. She is the director of studies at the School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS) and the author of numerous transdisciplinary works, including "Islamicities" and "Tunisia: The Country Without Noise."
The Genesis of the Book
Published in three volumes by Anacharsis Editions, this work explores the political and social history of Moroccan sultans, constantly comparing it to that of other spaces in the Islamic world, China, Europe, and other regions. The author's primary goal is to deconstruct the orientalist myth of despotism and the harem as a place of female intrigue, political manipulation, and romantic rivalries.
Challenging Orientalist Stereotypes
The title, which Dakhlia describes as a "provocation," is a deliberate editorial choice, born from the confidence of her publisher in the scope of this research work. The author recounts the genesis of this over 1,000-page book, which was triggered by the reading of the memoirs of a French captive in Morocco in the 17th century. This account reveals that women were not confined, contrary to legend, and that they traveled, sometimes at the risk of their lives.
Deconstructing the "Pathologization of History"
Through this work, where questions of gender and politics are intertwined, Dakhlia aims to respond to what she calls the "pathologization of history." The issue of women has often served as a pretext for distancing Muslim societies and, ultimately, justifying colonization in the name of supposed poor governance. According to the author, contemporary crises surrounding Islam have revived scientific curiosity and led to a multiplication of research. However, the renewal of historical thought over the past few decades still struggles to be reflected in public debates.
The Need for a New Perspective
Dakhlia reexamines the dossier of harems by inscribing the problems in their contemporaneity. She starts with orientalist prejudices, often internalized, to deconstruct a double fiction: that of despotism and that of the harem. Her work is based on a rigorous demonstration supported by an abundance of sources and notes in a 2,400-page manuscript immediately accepted by her publisher.
Rethinking Images and Representations
The author also dwelled on the role of media images, often more striking than texts, in reproducing historical stereotypes. The stereotypical content fueled by orientalist clichés abounds on the web and remains easily accessible during research, even though it deviates entirely from historical truths. Dakhlia called for developing a new iconography to restore the dignity of historical actors and offer a different perspective on Muslim societies.
A Critical Reexamination of History
This critical reexamination of history, based on evidence and the cross-referencing of sources, aims to correct the way the Western gaze describes Maghreb societies. By starting from Morocco and broadening her analysis to other contexts, Dakhlia delivers a work that the IRMC audience deemed remarkable for its innovation, commitment, and meticulousness.
