Considered the key player in global politics it does not seem surprising that international relations theory centres around the role of the United States in the international system. Following the most recent elections the world is facing a wave of insecurity with scholars and policymakers alike wondering which course the United States will take. One important tool to predict actions is the study of identity, which been neglected in traditional IR theory. Yet understanding one’s identity can provide valuable insights into the character, line of thinking and future actions. A state’s identity is intertwined with its history and the U.S. history is one of war. Over the past century there was not one major war that the United States has not been involved in. One can therefore ask if the identity of the United States is founded on conflicts which were built by the United States itself?
This essay shall apply a poststructuralist approach to this question and discuss Foucault’s ‘limit attitude’ and exclusionist thinking in relation to U.S. history and foreign policy. The author shall look at the proclaimed war on terror as one example of a conflict the United States has faced over the past years although it would go beyond the boundaries of this piece to examine the war on terror in detail. Lastly, the conclusion is drawn that U.S. identity is shaped by conflicts but it would be false to call those crises self-constructed. Instead, the particularity of U.S. history and its foundation as an immigrant state have imposed a leading role in global politics upon them to which they are trying to live up to ever since. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Is U.S. identity founded on self-constructed crises? A poststructuralist approach.
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to examine whether the national identity of the United States is fundamentally shaped by crises, utilizing a poststructuralist framework to analyze the intersection of history, foreign policy, and power dynamics. The research questions explore the role of "us vs. them" narratives and the strategic use of crises to maintain state identity and manage public perception.
- The influence of Foucault’s "limit attitude" on U.S. foreign policy and exclusionist thinking.
- The relationship between state identity, internal contradictions, and external conflicts.
- The "War on Terror" as a mechanism for reinforcing national identity and managing domestic political discourse.
- The role of information technology and the media in constructing global insecurity and maintaining state power.
Excerpt from the book
Is U.S. identity founded on self-constructed crises? A poststructuralist approach.
Considered the key player in global politics it does not seem surprising that international relations theory centres around the role of the United States in the international system. Following the most recent elections the world is facing a wave of insecurity with scholars and policymakers alike wondering which course the United States will take. One important tool to predict actions is the study of identity, which been neglected in traditional IR theory. Yet understanding one’s identity can provide valuable insights into the character, line of thinking and future actions. A state’s identity is intertwined with its history and the U.S. history is one of war. Over the past century there was not one major war that the United States has not been involved in. One can therefore ask if the identity of the United States is founded on conflicts which were built by the United States itself?
This essay shall apply a poststructuralist approach to this question and discuss Foucault’s ‘limit attitude’ and exclusionist thinking in relation to U.S. history and foreign policy. The author shall look at the proclaimed war on terror as one example of a conflict the United States has faced over the past years although it would go beyond the boundaries of this piece to examine the war on terror in detail. Lastly, the conclusion is drawn that U.S. identity is shaped by conflicts but it would be false to call those crises self-constructed. Instead, the particularity of U.S. history and its foundation as an immigrant state have imposed a leading role in global politics upon them to which they are trying to live up to ever since.
Summary of Chapters
Is U.S. identity founded on self-constructed crises? A poststructuralist approach.: This section establishes the research framework by introducing poststructuralist theory to evaluate how U.S. foreign policy and identity are deeply intertwined with historical conflicts and the strategic definition of external threats.
Keywords
U.S. Identity, Poststructuralism, Foreign Policy, Foucault, Crisis Management, War on Terror, State Identity, Governmentality, Power Dynamics, International Relations, Security Discourse, Exclusionist Thinking, Global Politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates the relationship between United States national identity and its history of involvement in conflicts, questioning whether this identity is rooted in self-constructed crises.
Which theoretical approach is applied?
The author applies a poststructuralist perspective, drawing heavily on Michel Foucault's theories regarding power, knowledge, and the "limit attitude."
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if U.S. identity is shaped by conflicts and to assess the validity of the claim that these crises are "self-constructed" by the American government.
Which specific methodology is utilized?
The work employs a discourse analysis approach, focusing on how political rhetoric and governmentality shape the public understanding of threats and national identity.
What key themes are addressed in the main body of the work?
The text covers the historical evolution of U.S. foreign policy, the "us vs. them" binary, the socio-economic motivations of the military, and the impact of the War on Terror.
Which keywords define the essence of this study?
Central keywords include Poststructuralism, U.S. Identity, Foreign Policy, Power, Security, War on Terror, and Governmentality.
How does the paper interpret the "War on Terror"?
It interprets the War on Terror as a prime example of how the U.S. maintains its global identity through the identification of threats, while noting that this approach often masks domestic issues.
What is the significance of the "us vs. them" thinking mentioned?
The author argues that this thinking is an integral part of U.S. foreign policy, used to unify a diverse immigrant population by externalizing contradictions and defining the "other" as a dangerous entity.
Does the author conclude that U.S. crises are entirely self-constructed?
No, the author concludes that while U.S. identity is heavily influenced by crises, it is too reductive to label them as merely "self-constructed," acknowledging the complexity of the state's historical and global role.
- Citar trabajo
- Katherine Kretshmer (Autor), 2016, Is U.S. identity founded on self-constructed crises? A poststructuralist approach, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/378102
