10 years ago, almost to the day, terrorists hijacked 4 four planes, flying two of them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth airliner came down in rural Pennsylvania, when travelers tried to regain control of the cockpit. Almost 3000 people lost their lives in the attacks on September 11, 2001, when the Islamist group al-Qaeda put an early end to what seemed like the beginning of an era of unprecedented peace and security for the United States of America.
After the breakup of the Soviet Empire and the end of the Cold War, the USA has emerged as the world’s lone superpower, with no rival state possessing sufficient military, economic or technological strength to impose a serious threat on them. American foreign policy, whose focal point had been the containment of Soviet power for over 40 years, became less important and the public interest focused on domestic issues.
How did the end of the Cold War era and the terrorist threat affect American Foreign Policy? Three years after the election of Barack Obama, this paper aims at contrasting the administrations of both the American presidents of the 21st century in regard to their foreign policy making on the one hand, and the consequent transatlantic relations on the other. What are the specific characteristics of Bush’s and Obama’s approach to foreign policy problems? What are the differences and similarities? In what way have both presidents shaped the relations to international organisations as well as their allies in Europe?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is American Foreign Policy about?
3. The George W. Bush Administration
3.1 September 11 and the War on Terror
3.2 The Bush Doctrine
3.3 International and Transatlantic Relations
3.4 The Second Bush Term
4. The Barack Obama Administration
4.1 Post-Bush Foreign Policy
4.2 The ‘Global War on Terror’ Continues
4.3 Continuity and Change 2009-2011
4.4 Transatlantic Relations
5. Conclusion
5.1 The Future of American Foreign Policy
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of the foreign policy approaches of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, specifically examining how each presidency influenced transatlantic relations and the broader international standing of the United States in the 21st century.
- Contrasting the unilateralist "Bush Doctrine" with the shift towards multilateral engagement under Obama.
- Evaluating the impact of the "Global War on Terror" on global diplomatic relations and national security strategies.
- Assessing the extent to which Barack Obama successfully fulfilled campaign pledges regarding international cooperation.
- Analyzing the evolution of transatlantic ties, identifying turning points such as the Iraq War and subsequent diplomatic attempts at rapprochement.
Excerpt from the Book
September 11 and the War on Terror
The U.S. citizens’ belief that their nation was sufficiently secure and their lack of interest in foreign affairs came to an abrupt ending on September 11, 2001. Understandably enough, the fear of terrorism rose to the top of the public agenda, calling for a new foreign policy orientation. From that point on, the administration hence emphasized foreign policy and - unsurprisingly, considering its mindset - chose an aggressive strategy with a focus on national interests and security. The ensuing and ongoing ‘global war on terror’ certainly is the key feature not only of Bush’s foreign policy, but of his whole presidency.
As a result of crises like the attacks on September 11, the American people usually develop a strong sense of patriotism in order to sustain national order and security. It is during such difficult times with looming military conflicts abroad that the presidential approval reaches peaks. Immediately upon 9/11, George W. Bush obtained an approval of 90 %, amounting to an enormous rise of over 35 % compared to August 2011. Due to this indisputable public opinion and the sense of unity, the members of the American Congress normally steer clear of challenging governmental responses, as radical as they may be, to the relevant threats. This phenomenon is referred to as the ‘rally round the flag effect’ (cf. Rosati / Scott 2011: 35 f.; also: Hook 2011: 227)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the shift in American focus toward foreign policy in the post-9/11 era and sets the stage for comparing the Bush and Obama administrations.
2. What is American Foreign Policy about?: Defines foreign policy as a tool for securing national power and introduces the three primary schools of thought: Realists, democratic nationalists, and liberal institutionalists.
3. The George W. Bush Administration: Analyzes the aggressive, unilateralist approach of the Bush era, the implementation of the "Bush Doctrine," and the resulting strain on international and transatlantic relations.
4. The Barack Obama Administration: Examines Obama’s attempt to transition toward multilateral diplomacy and address global crises, while noting the continuity of the "Global War on Terror" and the limitations of his foreign policy pledges.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the parallels and differences between the two administrations, acknowledging that while Obama shifted the tone, many structural foreign policy challenges persist.
Keywords
U.S. Foreign Policy, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Transatlantic Relations, War on Terror, Unilateralism, Multilateralism, Bush Doctrine, Realism, Liberal Institutionalism, International Law, Diplomacy, National Security, Post-9/11, Regime Change
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic work?
This work provides a critical examination of U.S. foreign policy strategies under the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, focusing on their respective impacts on international relations.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The text centers on the tension between unilateralism and multilateralism, the evolution of national security strategies post-9/11, and the shifting dynamics of transatlantic alliances.
What is the central research question?
The paper investigates whether the widely held perception of Bush as a "bad actor" and Obama as a "white knight" is accurate by comparing their specific approaches to international conflicts and diplomatic engagements.
Which methodology is employed in the study?
The analysis is based on a comparative study of the two presidencies, evaluating their strategic decisions, reliance on international institutions, and adherence to democratic values versus national interests.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the Bush Doctrine, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the emergence of the "rally round the flag effect," and Obama’s subsequent efforts at diplomatic restoration and multilateral cooperation.
What are the characterizing keywords of this study?
Key terms include U.S. Foreign Policy, Bush Doctrine, Transatlantic Relations, Global War on Terror, and Liberal Institutionalism.
How did the Bush administration justify its unilateralist actions?
The administration utilized the "Bush Doctrine," emphasizing preemptive strikes against perceived threats to national security and the assertion of American hegemony as the best means to secure interests.
Did Barack Obama successfully distance his policy from his predecessor?
While Obama successfully shifted the rhetoric toward multilateral cooperation and international institutions, the study notes he continued certain controversial elements of the War on Terror, such as drone strikes.
How did European allies react to the two presidencies?
European public and government perception reached a low under Bush due to the Iraq War, but saw a resurgence of hope for "change" with the election of Barack Obama, followed by a realistic dampening of expectations.
What is the author's outlook on the future of U.S. foreign policy?
The author suggests that future policy is highly dependent on election outcomes but stresses that the U.S. cannot effectively solve global crises without international cooperation and adherence to global rules.
- Quote paper
- Tobi Remsch (Author), 2011, U.S. Foreign Policy in the 21st Century, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/209058
