Abstract
This paper is a critical analysis of potential Arab/Islamic anti-Americanism in Saudi Arabia. Particularly the significance of the Gulf War of 1990/1991 and the resulting stationing of US troops inside the Saudi kingdom for the Arab/Islamic anti-Americanism will be analyzed.
Hereby, this project seeks to investigate whether the reactions to the American presence in Saudi Arabia and the broader Arab/Islamic region are of anti-American nature or whether they reveal other proprieties.
With the help of various Arabic and American sources the research question is approached and compared from both sides. The inclusion of Arabic sources of Saudi opposition leaders allows this paper to examine which leitmotifs dominate the discourse on American soldiers in Saudi Arabia.
Overall, four main reactions are identified and discussed with the means of a qualitative analysis: Foreigners and disbelievers in Saudi Arabia, opposition to the Saudi royal family, an exploitation of anti-Americanism, and a liberal movement.
The resulting main themes lead to this paper’s thesis that an anti-American characterization of the reactions to the American troop presence during the Gulf War is a questionable simplification of the situation.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sources and Method
3. The Problems of Defining Anti-Americanism
3.1 America: Hated for What it is or for What it Does?
3.2 A Clash of Civilizations?
4. Historical Overview
4.1 The Arab/Islamic World During the Colonial Period
4.2 Pan-Arabism and Pan-Islamism
4.3 US Foreign Policy in the Arab World
4.4 The Significance of Israel and Palestine
4.5 The Phenomenon of the “Mu’amarah” in the Arab World
5. Reactions to US Forces in Saudi Arabia
5.1 A Brief History of Saudi Arabia
5.2 Overview of the Origins and Events of the Gulf War 1990/1991
5.3 Foreigners and Disbelievers in Saudi Arabia
5.4 Opposition to the Saudi Royal Family
5.5 Al Qaida and the Concept of the “Near and Far Enemy”
5.6 The Liberals Inside the Saudi Kingdom
6. American Self-Perception
7. Conclusion and Outlook
Objectives and Topics
This work provides a critical analysis of Arab/Islamic anti-Americanism in Saudi Arabia, focusing specifically on the significance of the 1990/1991 Gulf War and the resulting deployment of US troops. The central research question investigates whether reactions to this American presence are inherently anti-American or if they manifest as other forms of grievance, such as opposition to the Saudi ruling family or a general xenophobic rejection of foreign influence.
- The impact of the 1990/1991 Gulf War on regional anti-Americanism.
- Distinguishing between genuine anti-Americanism and other forms of political or religious opposition.
- The role of Arabic sources and opposition leaders in shaping the discourse.
- Qualitative analysis of four main reaction types: foreigners/disbelievers, anti-royal sentiment, exploitation of anti-Americanism, and a liberal reformist movement.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Problems of Defining Anti-Americanism
There seems to be no universal academic definition of anti-Americanism. It has become a popular buzz word with multiple meanings and different variations. Utilizing the term for any analysis opens up a path of seemingly inevitable dichotomy: anti- vs. pro-Americanism. For authors such as Herbert Spiro anti-Americanism is “harsh criticism of the core values of the U.S. constitution.” The corresponding opposite then would be Americanism which has been defined by some as “the acceptance of American values or the pursuit of the American Constitution’s values (freedom, equality, justice, and democracy).” Other scholars have called anti-Americanism a “non-rational position” which is based on pure emotion and lack of reasoning.
With respect to the topic of anti-Americanism in the Arab/Islamic world the standard reference is the work of two political scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, Alvin Rubinstein and Donald Smith, who published the first analysis of anti-Americanism in the Third World in the United States in 1985. Probably caused by events such as the occupation of the American embassy and the taking of hostages in Tehran in 1979 and the virulent verbal attacks by Ayatollah Khomeini labeling the United States “the Great Satan” Rubinstein and Smith set out to find the reasons for these kinds of perceptions of the United States.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the central research question regarding the nature of Arab/Islamic anti-Americanism, specifically in the context of US troops in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War.
2. Sources and Method: Outlines the qualitative and hermeneutical approach used to analyze Arabic newspapers, speeches, and manifestos alongside American sources.
3. The Problems of Defining Anti-Americanism: Discusses the lack of a universal definition and explores existing typologies and academic debates surrounding the term.
4. Historical Overview: Provides necessary background on the Arab/Islamic world, colonialism, Pan-Arabism, Pan-Islamism, and the history of US foreign policy in the Middle East.
5. Reactions to US Forces in Saudi Arabia: The main analytical section that examines the responses to American troop presence, including debates on religious legitimacy, internal Saudi dissent, and the rhetoric of opposition groups.
6. American Self-Perception: Compares the Arab discourse with American internal assessments and perceptions of the Middle East, particularly in the post-9/11 era.
7. Conclusion and Outlook: Synthesizes findings, asserting that reactions were driven more by xenophobia and local political struggle than by genuine, focused anti-Americanism.
Keywords
Anti-Americanism, Saudi Arabia, Gulf War, Islamism, Pan-Arabism, US Foreign Policy, Wahhabism, Mu’amarah, Bin Ladin, Al Qaida, Middle East, Political Islam, Anti-Semitism, Social Justice, Religious Legitimacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this study?
This work critically analyzes the nature of Arab/Islamic anti-Americanism in Saudi Arabia, specifically regarding the stationing of US troops during the 1990/1991 Gulf War.
What are the central thematic areas?
The research focuses on the impact of foreign military presence on local politics, the influence of religious and political ideologies, and the distinction between genuine anti-Americanism and broader regional grievances.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The research investigates whether the observed reactions to the American presence are of an anti-American nature or if they reveal other motivations, such as opposition to the Saudi royal family or internal social reform demands.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs a qualitative, hermeneutical approach to analyze primary sources, including Arabic newspapers, political manifestos, and speeches, compared against American government documentation.
What is covered in the main part of the work?
The main body examines historical perspectives, the "Mu'amarah" (conspiracy) syndrome, the internal Saudi political climate, the radicalization of opposition groups like Al Qaida, and the aspirations of liberal reform movements.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is defined by terms such as Anti-Americanism, Saudi Arabia, Gulf War, Wahhabism, Mu’amarah, and Political Islam.
How does the author define the relationship between the Saudi royal family and the radical opposition?
The author highlights a contradiction where the royal family used Wahhabi religious principles to legitimize their rule, yet faced fierce opposition from radical clerics who accused the regime of hypocrisy and betraying those same principles by hosting non-Muslim forces.
Does the author conclude that Saudi anti-Americanism is an "inevitable" result of US policy?
No, the author argues that characterizations of these reactions as purely anti-American are a questionable simplification, asserting instead that the sentiments are primarily rooted in domestic issues and a broader rejection of foreign influence rather than a specific hatred of the United States.
- Citar trabajo
- M.A. Michael Schmid (Autor), 2009, What’s behind all the Hate? The Truth about Arab/Islamic Antagonism towards the United States, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/196537
