American Foreign Policy and the Meaning of Democracy Promotion for Administrations of George W. Bush (2000-2008) and Barack Obama (2008-2012): Exploring Different Ideological Approaches to American Foreign Policy and Democracy Promotion
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2014
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Haverford College. Department of Political Science
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Abstract
This thesis explores the differing modalities of "democracy promotion" in American foreign policy in the 21st century for the Presidencies of George W. Bush (2000-2008) and the Obama administration's first administration (2008-2012). In light of the changing role of democracy promotion as part of American foreign policy, the research question I pose is: Between 2000 and 2012, how were George W. Bush and Barack Obama's rhetoric and practice of democracy promotion different from one another, and what do these distinctions say about the significance of democratic norms in their overarching foreign policy strategies? The implications of my argument are threefold. Firstly, this thesis highlights the changing dynamics of the structural conditions that shape foreign policy decision-making in the United States, and shed light on the increasingly precarious role of both the United States and western conceptions of "democracy" in international politics. It demonstrates the instability of the definition of democracy as an idea, event, or institutional structure but also recognizes the principles associated with democracies. Secondly, my analysis highlights the fundamental ideological differences between George Bush and Barack Obama. On the surface, there is a lot of continuity between the two presidents, but upon closer inspection we find that Obama's administration has a much more robust, long-term vision for American international development programs that is distinct from the unilateral pursuit of national interest--he is more governed by normative considerations than Bush had been. This is shown specifically through the rhetorical and practical application of "democratic principles", either through democratic assistance or other programs, specifically through USAID, as means of revitalizing the United States' international credibility. Finally, this thesis demonstrates the expanding role of the international environment and international norms in shaping state behavior in the 21st century, even for "hegemonic" states such as the United States. While Bush's administration pursued a unilateral foreign policy that disregarded the potential impact that the international space could have on American interests, Obama's foreign policy has been deeply influenced by international norms and opinion.