A study of narrative identity-making in American HIV/AIDS policy
Pätilä, Anni (2014)
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Pätilä, Anni
2014
Kansainvälinen politiikka - International Relations
Johtamiskorkeakoulu - School of Management
Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2014-12-31
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201501141026
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201501141026
Tiivistelmä
This thesis joins the debate over the role idealism, also called Wilsonianism, plays in the formation of United States foreign policy. It studies the ways presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama justify the substantial financial and political commitment the United States has made to HIV/AIDS programs abroad. The justifications are explored through different identity narratives that the two presidents present in their speeches between 2003 and 2014.
The theoretical foundation of my study is Christopher S. Browning's narrative theory of identity which builds on a Wendtian understanding of social constructivism. This theoretical framework allows me to study how the presidents use rhetoric of affirmation, reaffirmation, purification and subversion to legitimize certain identity narratives and therefore, certain policy decisions.
In my analysis three grand identity narratives emerge: one of a blessed nation, one of an uneasy multilateralist and one of a universalist promoting American values. Based on this, the United States often adheres to the Wilsonian principles of interventionism and promotion of American liberal ideals. This is especially true in regard to President Bush. President Obama, however, seems to adhere less to the tradition of idealism than his predecessor. Therefore, my contribution to the debate over Wilsonianism is to claim that justifying one's foreign policy choices with moral principles is a narrative which builds heavily on historical continuity.
Utilizing a framework of narrative identities, we gain a new perspective concerning the role the United States plays internationally. Through focusing on identity narratives spelled out by the presidents we are able to understand how they perceive their nation, and how they justify motivation for past and future action.
The theoretical foundation of my study is Christopher S. Browning's narrative theory of identity which builds on a Wendtian understanding of social constructivism. This theoretical framework allows me to study how the presidents use rhetoric of affirmation, reaffirmation, purification and subversion to legitimize certain identity narratives and therefore, certain policy decisions.
In my analysis three grand identity narratives emerge: one of a blessed nation, one of an uneasy multilateralist and one of a universalist promoting American values. Based on this, the United States often adheres to the Wilsonian principles of interventionism and promotion of American liberal ideals. This is especially true in regard to President Bush. President Obama, however, seems to adhere less to the tradition of idealism than his predecessor. Therefore, my contribution to the debate over Wilsonianism is to claim that justifying one's foreign policy choices with moral principles is a narrative which builds heavily on historical continuity.
Utilizing a framework of narrative identities, we gain a new perspective concerning the role the United States plays internationally. Through focusing on identity narratives spelled out by the presidents we are able to understand how they perceive their nation, and how they justify motivation for past and future action.