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The Sacred and the Secular: Influence of Religion on George W. Bush’s Foreign Policy

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  • Moutusi Paul Choudhury

Abstract

This article makes an attempt at unraveling the influence of religion on former President George W. Bush’s foreign policy in the aftermath of the spectacular event of September 11. Along with various trends of globalization, the contemporary world also witnessed the resurgence of religious forces, making its presence felt across not only the social spectrum but also the political spectrum. This trend has been more visible in US foreign policy, particularly under the presidency of Bush Junior. After the attack, Bush’s frequent references to God resonated well with awestruck Americans, who looked upon their leader for solace and security. And the President’s personal faith went a long way in constructing the mechanism through which he intended to fight the scourge of terrorism—his policy of “War on Terrorism.†Bush also used religion as a polish to gloss over his muscular expansion of hegemonic power. Since religion played an important role in the identification and construction of the enemy as “evil,†both for Osama bin Laden and later for President Bush, Samuel P. Huntington’s “clash of civilizations†thesis found frequent references in the course of the analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Moutusi Paul Choudhury, 2015. "The Sacred and the Secular: Influence of Religion on George W. Bush’s Foreign Policy," Jadavpur Journal of International Relations, , vol. 19(2), pages 159-183, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jadint:v:19:y:2015:i:2:p:159-183
    DOI: 10.1177/0973598416639413
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