'A critique of hegemonic cultural stereotypes and value universalisation in clash of civilisations and United States Foreign Policy'
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(Published version)
Date
2005
Authors
Dornan, Paul
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thesis
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Statement of Responsibility
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Abstract
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the current U.S administration under President George W. Bush has embarked on a unilateralist and imperialist interventionist foreign policy. The current Bush administration claims a legitimate mandate for its interventionist foreign policy built upon a superficial exportation of liberal, democratic values and a broad series of good versus evil binaries to stigmatise its targets.
Following the September 11 terrorist attacks where a group of pathological criminals conducted unspeakable acts of destruction in the name of fundamentalist Islam, the United States (under the leadership of George W. Bush) has used a broad series of cultural stereotypes and misrepresentations to characterise the nature and composition of the threat it faces. The Bush administration policy since September 11 challenges other nations to either submit to U.S values and associated demands, or risk being viewed as a potential threat. The United States then presents its allies, and those who are too fearful of reprisals to offer any meaningful opposition, as evidence that the U.S interventionist policy is aligned to universal values.
The Bush administration's interventionist foreign policy is underpinned by cultural stereotypes and misrepresentations of Islam and a universalisation of U.S values that can be categorised as what Edward Said calls Orientalist discourses. The Middle-East is characterised as hostile, indifferent, prone to corruption and anarchical in its nature, to legitimise imperial aggression by the U.S and its allies, and to impose a caricature of democracy and liberty in the Middle-East. Through this process the U.S suggests that the Middle-East has been denied universal rights such as democracy and freedom, which only the U.S and a few other Anglo-western nations can provide. Orientalist discourses apply cultural stereotypes and misrepresentations of ethnic groups for political purposes. Binaries are used to portray and present a notion of 'otherness' or opposition to the current status quo.
Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilisations is examined as an overt example of an orientalist approach to international relations, Clash of Civilisations shares significant parallels with current United States foreign policy. In particular, it is argued that three main themes can be found in both U.S policy and Huntington's analysis: the use of polarisations and cultural stereotypes to explain and define opponents; emphasis on the U.S as a (benign) military, economic and cultural hegemon; and finally, use of these stereotypes to develop an universalisation of US values to justify the advancement of a particular construction of U.S interests throughout the world.
On the contrary, it is argued that the Bush administration's interventionist foreign policy is counterproductive to U.S interests. Unilateral interventionist policies legitimised through universalisation of values fail to win the respect of other countries, and increases international suspicion and mistrust. The Bush administration has created a climate of suspicion and hostility that has harmed the U.S by decreasing its level of cultural influence, in particular through a depreciation of what Nye calls "soft power".
It is argued that the U.S must instead shift its emphasis from military bullying to a fostering of multilateral partnerships. Through multilateral partnerships and an emphasis on the importance of multilateral organisations like the United Nations and NATO, the U.S could regain the trust and cooperation of other nations (not just a few allies and those fearful of U.S chastisement). U.S interest would be better served by embracing the Middle-East through diplomatic means, opening lines of dialogue and fostering better relationships with various cultural groups. This alternative approach would enable the threat posed by Islamist terrorists to be engaged with support from a broader coalition, including more adherents of Islam.
School/Discipline
School of International Studies
Dissertation Note
Thesis (MInternationalStudies)--University of South Australia, 2005.
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Copyright 2005 the author. This item has been reproduced by the University of South Australia here in good faith. Attempts to contact original copyright owner(s) are ongoing. We would be pleased to hear from copyright owner(s).
Description
vii, 156 leaves
Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-156).
Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-156).
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