The Many Faces of Anti-Americanism Essay

Submitted By Hzander5
Words: 6934
Pages: 28
Open Document
The Many Faces of Anti-Americanism

Abstract

Nowadays, the United States is publicly considered the world’s single super power, after it shared this status with the former U.S.S.R. until the end of Cold War. Its evolution in time influenced many countries and regions throughout the world. Its role was portrayed as paternal or as the savior of the weak, or the protector and the defender of human rights, democracy, liberty and autonomy. On the other hand, the image reflected by its actions illustrates contradictory values, resistance to countries’ independence and autonomy, authoritarian regimes or economic and political pressure. This has generated multiple waves against its politics and against its foreign relations, grouped under a social phenomenon recognized as the anti–Americanism.

This research paper studies the causes of anti–Americanism, by examining how this trend developed in Arab countries (Iran, Iraq, Turkey), or Latin America states (Argentina, Venezuela, Honduras) and identifies similarities in their perceptions of anti–Americanisms. Likewise, I observed their attitudes towards the anti–Americanism trend and the expressions against it. What the North Americans do to limit the ever growing rates of anti–Americanism and why is it necessary to eradicate this trend are other significant elements that this research paper will discuss about.

INTRODUCTION

Over the last few decades, Anti-Americanism has remained the subject of emotional public opinionated debate, which is evident both within and outside Washington. The hostility U.S. receives is barely a new observable fact, yet the various sources and a sign of Anti-Americanism mainly among the Arab world makes it even further difficult to accurately arrive on an identifiable cause. The United States was portrayed as the savior of the weak, or the protector and the defender of human rights, democracy, liberty and autonomy. On the other hand, the image reflected by its actions illustrates contradictory values, such as resistance to countries’ independence of authoritarian regimes and economic and political pressure. This has generated multiple waves against its politics and against its foreign relations, grouped under a social phenomenon recognized as anti – Americanism.

The September 11th terror assaults on New York and Washington created an instant outpouring of unity from countries that are believed to be U.S. cronies and received substantial sympathy from different parts of the world that are not closely aligned with the United States. However, the affection was principally gone by the time U.S. made a decision to go to war in Iraq. This act was replaced in many minds and hearts by increased caution of the influence of U.S. military power, creating distrust on the side of the United States motives in the larger Middle East and other parts of the world.

Anti-Americanism can be defined as any hostile act that is part and parcel of the undifferentiated attack on foreign policy, society, and culture as well as the values of the United States. Since September 11th 2001, there has been a debate questioning citizens of the Islamic world on their opinion or view of the U.S. policy as well as that of the American values and culture[1]. The intensity of anti-Americanism revealed different research work and the Arab world has been the subject of great discussion. In some of these countries, the consequences of anti-Americanism attitudes are associated with aspects regarding delegitimizing the American value[2]. For some of the Muslims who are linked to the thought of anti Americanism do it on the basis of their cultural differences as well as some fundamental disagreement over their societal norms[3].

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

As the “Literature Research” and the “Development of Argument” will illustrate, United States is implementing a strategy meant to propel its political philosophies and visions regarding
Show More

Related Documents: The Many Faces of Anti-Americanism Essay

Roy Vs Krauthammer Summary

A Look at US Foreign Policy: Roy v. Krauthammer In his farewell address given to the citizens of the United States in 1796 as he was leaving office, George Washington focused on the preservation of the Union and to avoid sectionalism, which he saw as the potential destroyer of the nation and common interest. “The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations” (Washington)…

Words 1669 - Pages 7

Iraq War Causes

of Saddam Hussein, the authoritarian leader of Iraq. American president George W. Bush, who announced the commencement of the war in March 2003, explained that the goals were to free the people and claimed that they had weapons of mass destruction. Many factors went into the decision of United States leaders to engage in war with Iraq in 2003. These causes can be related to various purposes based on the righteousness or national interest of the two countries. This paper will explain and discuss the…

Words 1138 - Pages 5

1 War Without Mercy Race And Essay

#1 War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War Following the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the American people reacted violently with fear and anger at the suddenly ominous power of the Japanese nation. The forms this rage took in the portrayal of the enemy in political cartoons, propaganda films, popular songs, and psychological studies often presented the Japanese variously as apes, bats, octopuses, vermin, giants, rapists, midgets and children. Paralleling this we find that…

Words 1941 - Pages 8

Hist 410 Research Paper

plans had changed. Within the space of an hour, al Qaeda wreaked more direct damage on the United States than the Soviet Union had done throughout the entire cold war, a tragedy seen by more people than any other event in history. (Bergen, 2006) Many questions were garnered after September 11, 2001. What caused this horrific attack and who’s to blame for it? Was this attack forecasted, could we…

Words 2541 - Pages 11

A Comparative and Contrasting Essay on 20th Century Black Political Leaders: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

as an American but as an African due to all of the social degradation black people faced. “I'm not an American... I'm one of the 22 million black victims of Americanism... I speak as a victim of America’s so-called democracy... nothing but disguised hypocrisy.... We see America through the eyes of someone who has been the victim of Americanism. We don't see any American dream. We’ve experienced the American nightmare” (Gates & McKay, 1997, p.96) . Malcolm X is absolutely correct in saying that black…

Words 2574 - Pages 11

Essay about The End Of The American Era

decline—even when the prospect was remote. Back in 1950, National Security Council Report 68 warned that Soviet acquisition of atomic weapons heralded an irreversible shift in geopolitical momentum in Moscow’s favor. A few years later, Sputnik’s launch led many to fear that Soviet Stephen M. Walt is the Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. 6 The National Interest premier Nikita S. Khrushchev’s pledge to “bury” Western capitalism…

Words 5827 - Pages 24

The Da Vinci Impact Essay

tolerance that wouldn’t hurt a fly. There was a sense of innocence, a sense of openness that only America had. Once you were sold the “American Dream,” there was no looking back. Anyone could make it in America. Dan Brown was one of the many vying for the American Dream. Born in 1964, Brown grew up in a household surrounded by puzzles and mathematics. His father was a mathematics professor, and sparked Brown’s interest in the subject at a very young age. Brown produced some musical work…

Words 3777 - Pages 16

Black People Essay

the white man, economic exploitation at the hands of the white man, and social degradation at the hands of the white man. Now in speaking like this, it doesn't mean that we're anti-white, but it does mean we're antiexploitation, we're anti-degradation, we're anti-oppression. And if the white man doesn't want us to be anti-him, let him stop oppressing and exploiting and degrading us. Whether we are Christians or Muslims or nationalists or agnostics or atheists, we must first learn to forget our differences…

Words 8632 - Pages 35