CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2009
| Author | Branzei, Georgiana Andreea |
|---|---|
| Title | Imperialism versus Exceptionalism. The Sources of US Foreign Policy at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century |
| Summary | Despite considerable research on the complexities of American foreign policy decisions at the beginning of the twenty-first century, controversy still remains relative to the potential forces driving these decisions. This study provides a critical assessment of the actuality of two possible paths of interpretation: either imperialism or exceptionalism as determinants of George W. Bush’s foreign affairs strategy. A predominant idea that emerges from the literature depicts the United States as not only a world leader, but one manifesting imperialist ambitions, understood essentially in terms of the desire to achieve economic global domination. In attempting to identify the sources of US foreign policy during George W. Bush’s two presidential terms, my thesis challenges the imperialist scenario. Instead, by basing my assumptions primarily on the analysis of political discourse, I argue that US foreign policy-making in this period is a process informed more by ideological considerations that stem from the doctrine of American exceptionalism, as well as the ensuing sense of a global moral mission that America is to achieve. These findings, in turn, not only relate to the broader debate, but also might prove useful in explaining certain continuities and inconsistencies in the political behavior of the United States of America on the international scene. |
| Supervisor | Papkova, Irina |
| Department | International Relations MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2009/branzei_georgiana.pdf |
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