the other the Orient has helped to define Europe(or the West) as its contrasting image, idea, personality, experience. Yet none of this Orient is merely imaginative the vastly expanded American political and economic role in the Near East(the Middle East) makes great claims on our understanding of that Orient.6 the Other  the Orient has helped to define Europe (or the West) as its contrasting image, idea, personality, experience.  Yet none of this Orient is merely imaginative.  the vastly expanded American political and economic role in the Near East (the Middle East) makes great claims on our understanding of that Orient