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Insight Into the Bush Doctrine: the Beliefs and Images Behind the Foreign Policy of George W

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Insight Into the Bush Doctrine: the Beliefs and Images Behind the Foreign Policy of George W INSIGHT INTO THE BUSH DOCTRINE: THE BELIEFS AND IMAGES BEHIND THE FOREIGN POLICY OF GEORGE W. BUSH Jessica Rosinski Bachelor of Arts, McMaster University, 2004 PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS In the Department of Political Science O Jessica Rosinski 2007 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2007 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author APPROVAL Name: Jessica Rosins ki Degree: Master of Arts, Department of Political Science Title of Project: Insight Into The Bush Doctrine: The Beliefs and Images Behind the Foreign Policy of George W. Bush Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Stephen McBride Professor Department of Political Science Dr. Alexander Moens, Professor Senior Supervisor Department of Political Science Dr. Douglas A. Ross, Professor Supervisor Department of Political Science Dr. Peggy Falkenheim Meyer, Professor Internal Examiner Department of Political Science Date DefendedIApproved: December 8th2006 SIMON FRASER u~nmslnlibra ry DECLARATION OF PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENCE The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. The author has further granted permission to Simon Fraser University to keep or make a digital copy for use in its circulating collection (currently available to the public at the "Institutional Repository" link of the SFU Library website <www.lib.sfu.ca> at: ~http:llir.lib.sfu.calhandlell8921112~)and, without changing the content, to translate the thesislproject or extended essays, if technically possible, to any medium or format for the purpose of preservation of the digital work. The author has further agreed that permission for multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by either the author or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without the author's written permission. Permission for public performance, or limited permission for private scholarly use, of any multimedia materials forming part of this work, may have been granted by the author. This information may be found on the separately catalogued multimedia material and in the signed Partial Copyright Licence. The original Partial Copyright Licence attesting to these terms, and signed by this author, may be found in the original bound copy of this work, retained in the Simon Fraser University Archive. Simon Fraser University Library Burnaby, BC, Canada Revised: Fall 2006 The Bush Doctrine has transformed American foreign policy and impacted the international state system, and in this paper I demonstrate that understanding President George W. Bush's beliefs and images of the world can help explain why and how the doctrine came into being. Blending cognitive psychology and foreign policy decision making theory, I argue that President Bush's perception and ability to process information have been shaped by his beliefs and images of the world, ultimately influencing his foreign policy decisions. I identify four primitive beliefs: religious, philosophical, political, and personal, that are central to President Bush's belief-disbelief system. I argue that these primitive beliefs underlie the Bush Doctrine, and that they have generated significant consequences for the Bush administration, American foreign policy, and the international state system. Keywords: George W. Bush, the Bush Doctrine, beliefs and images, American foreign policy, presidential decision making iii To Adam... I would like to thank Professor Alexander Moens for his guidance, patience, and support over the past two years. Professor Moens introduced me to literature that inspired me to think more critically about our beliefs and images of the world, and he encouraged me to pursue my interest in American presidents. For this, I am most grateful. His knowledge of the subject of this paper is extraordinary, and I appreciate all of his help throughout my time at SFU. Thank you to Professor Ross for his suggestions on how to improve this paper and for being a part of my committee. I would also like to thank Peggy Falkenheim Meyer for being a part of my committee. Thank you to Laura Sparrow for her help and perspective over the past two years. I would like to thank my Mom for her support and her sense of humour, and I credit her as an 'external authority' who has had a tremendous impact on my beliefs and images of the world. Finally I would like to thank my partner Adam Chandler. I am fortunate to have a best friend who shares my worldview, and who has never wavered in his support or encouragement. TABLE OF CONTENTS .. APPROVAL ....................................................................................................II ... ABSTRACT.................................................................................................... 111 DEDICATION................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................... v TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................. vi INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ I American Presidents................................................................ 3 The Bush Doctrine................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 1: THE INDIVIDUAL MATTERS ............................................... 11 1. 1 : RATIONAL ACTOR? ..................................................................... 13 Dealing with Uncertainty........................................................ 14 Group Dynamics.................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 2: THE BELIEFS AND IMAGES APPROACH......................... 18 2.1 : EXPLAINING FOREIGN POLICY DECISION MAKING WITH THE HELP OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY ...................................... 19 Belief Systems ....................................................................... 21 Cognitive Consistency and Belief Stability ............................ 25 Values ................................................................................. 28 2.2: THE RELEVANCE OF BELIEFS AND IMAGES IN ANALYZING FOREIGN POLICY DECISION MAKING .................................... 30 Perception.............................................................................. 31 Information Processing.......................................................... 32 2.3. DETERMINING BELIEFS AND IMAGES .....................................34 CHAPTER 3: RELIGIOUS BELIEFS........................................................... 38 Zero-Order Beliefs................................................................. 39 3.1 : A PRIMITIVE BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST AND FAITH IN CHRISTIANITY........................................................................... 40 Higher-Order Beliefs and Images: Good and Evil, Black and White ...................................................................................... 44 Higher-Order Beliefs and Images: A Mission. A Positive Self Image ..................................................................................... 48 3.2. CONSEQUENCES .......................................................................51 CHAPTER 4: TRUST AND LOYALTY BELIEFS......................................... 55 Zero-Order Beliefs ................................................................. 55 4.1 : PRIMITIVE BELIEF IN TRUST AND LOYALTY ............................59 Higher Order Beliefs and Images: Politics is About People, Friends or Foe....................................................................... 63 4.2. CONSEQUENCES ....................................................................... 70 CHAPTE-R 5: PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS .................................................72 Zero-Order Beliefs ................................................................. 72 5.1 : PRIMITIVE BELIEF IN INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY ............................. 75 Higher-Order Belief: Democracy and Free Trade ..................77 5.2. CONSEQUENCES ....................................................................... 78 CHAPTER 6: POLITICAL BELIEFS........................................................... 81 Zero-Order Beliefs.................................................................. 81 6.1 : PRIMITIVE BELIEF IN STRONG LEADERSHIP.......................... 82 6.2. CONSEQUENCES ....................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION....................................................................... 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................................................................... 90 In this paper I will consider the beliefs and images of President George W. Bush, and how they have impacted the Bush Doctrine. President Bush is known as a, "man of strong principles and even stronger views" (Renshon 2004, 25). As a leader, "Bush draws on his core moral values for all his decisions while his genuine beliefs and frank talk match his own walk"
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