Global Dialogue Volume 5

7/25/2019 Global Dialogue Volume 5

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GLOBAL DIALOGUE Volume 5 Number 12 Winter/Sprin 2!!"#Ameri$%n

Empire&

The Clash of Civilisations and the War onTerror(ists): An Imperialist Discourse

MARK B. SALTERMark B. Salter teaches in the Department of Political Science at the University of tta!a. "is most recent #ook

is 'i(t) o* +%))%e, -(e +%))port in Intern%tion%l 'el%tion)$Lynne Rienner% &''().

-(e 11 September 2!!1 %tt%$.) on Ameri$% triere t(e US 0%r %%in)t terror3

-(e *lu4 o* t(e po)tol W%r er% %) *i4e in pl%$e it( % ne e$onom6 o* %ner3 At

t(e (e%rt o* t(i) %r7 I oul %rue7 i) t(e *orm%tion o* % ne %rti$ul%tion o* Ameri$%8)

role in t(e orl %n o* Ameri$%n ientit63 -(i) i)$our)e r%) on *%mili%r trope) inAmeri$%n (i)tor6 %n poli$63 -(e %r on terror repre)ent) % re%rti$ul%tion o* %n Ameri$%n

0$i9ili)in mi))ion3 At t(i) $ru$i%l )t%e (en t(e i)$our)e o* Ameri$%n *orein poli$6

i) bein eb%te %n i))emin%te7 e mu)t :ue)tion t(e loi$ t(%t i) in pl%63

-(i) e))%6 m%.e) to $(ie* %rument)3 ;ir)t7 t(e %mini)tr%tion o* Geore W3 Bu)( (%)

%$$epte t(e loi$ o* S%muel $%rt(6i)m7 t(e %r on ru) %n t(e %r on terror?3 I %rue t(%t t(e

%im o* t(e %r on terror i) not to %$(ie9e )ome .in o* milit%r6 9i$tor67 but $ontinu%ll6 to

m%r)(%l per$eption) o* %ner to @u)ti*6 Ameri$%n poli$ie)3

In Huntingtons Footsteps

-(e 0$l%)( o* $i9ili)%tion) t(e)i) (%) be$ome % tou$()tone *or $ontempor%r6 t(eori)in

%bout Ameri$%8) role in orl politi$)3 -(e %r on terror (%) rein*or$e t(e $ore

%rument) o* $ultur%l $l%)(7 t(e irre$on$il%bilit6 o* 0$i9ili)%tion)7 %n t(e nee *orAmeri$%n le%er)(ip3 In (i) *ir)t )(ort %rti$le7 %n in (i) )ub)e:uent boo.7


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pre9iou)7 0r%tion%l7 $on*li$t) li.e t(e ol W%r7 be$%u)e ientit6 %n $ulture %re ero

)um $on*li$t)3


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Alt(ou(


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On % orlie b%)i) i9ili%tion )eem) in m%n6 re)pe$t) to be 6ielin to b%rb%ri)m7 ener%tin t(e

im%e o* %n unpre$eente p(enomenon7 % lob%l D%r. Ae) In t(e re%ter $l%)(7 t(e lob%l

0real$l%)( Hi) beteen i9ili%tion %n b%rb%ri)m3 =+3 "21?

-o t(in) %re p%rti$ul%rl6 tellin %bout t(e)e %))ertion)3 ;ir)t7 u)lim


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$ommunit6 o* one billion %(erent) %) ell %) numerou) import%nt )t%te) =S%ui Ar%bi%7

E6pt7 Ini%7 >%l%6)i%7 et$3?3 -(e Unite St%te) i) %n4iou) to %9oi t(e 0.in$ountr6

)6nrome ienti*ie b6 u)lim $ountrie) %n $oopt t(em into t(e Ameri$%n %lli%n$e3 Ameri$% i))(orin up %n im%e o* it)el* %) t(e 0$ru)%er o* $i9ili)%tion#%t %r not it( t(e

ener%l b%rb%ri%n o* I)l%m but t(e )pe$i*i$ b%rb%ri%n o* t(e terrori)t3

-(e Unite St%te) (%) o*ten (el % me))i%ni$ 9ie o* it) pl%$e in (i)tor6 %) t(e briner o*

libert6 to t(e orl3 De)pite %rnin) %%in)t t(e %ner) o* (ubri)7 it (%) $ontinue to

e*ine t(e %r on terror in mor%li)ti$ term)#e337 Bu)(8) 0%4i) o* e9il3


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In e)$ribin Ameri$%n *orein poli$6 %) %n 0e$onom6 o* %ner7 I %m borroin

liber%ll6 *rom ;ou$%uli%n i)$our)e %n%l6)i)7 %n in p%rti$ul%r *rom t(e t(eorie) o*

D%9i %mpbell %n %me) Der Deri%n3 ;ou$%ult %rue) t(%t (en e e4%mine poli$ie)7

in)titution)7 %n i)$our)e)7 e mu)t loo. %t t(e circ*lationo* %ut(orit6 %n poer3 We

mu)t %). (%t oe) t(i) poer prou$e %) ell %) repre))3 In oin )o7 e re9e%l not onl6t(e %ent) o* poer7 but %l)o t(e ob@e$t) o* poer %n t(e line) o* *or$e b6 (i$( t(i)

poer oper%te)3 ;or e4%mple7 in % (o)pit%l t(e o$tor (%) e4tr% .nolee %n %ut(orit6

%bout t(e or.in) o* 6our bo67 (i$( m%.e 6ou % p%tientC in % $ourt7 t(e @ue (%)

.nolee o* t(e l% %n t(e *%$t) o* 6our uilt/inno$en$e7 (i$( m%.e) 6ou %

e*en%nt3 Wit( t(i) .in o* %n%l6)i)7 e )ee t(%t Ameri$%n *orein poli$6 oe) not

)impl6 repre)) $ert%in $ountrie) but $re%te) )pe$i*i$ ob@e$t) o* 9iolen$e3

%mpbell *o$u)e) our %ttention on t(e )o$i%l prou$tion o* 0%ner,

%ner i) not %n ob@e$ti9e $onition3 It i) not % t(in t(%t e4i)t) inepenentl6 o* t(o)e to (om it m%6be$ome % t(re%t %ner i) %n e**e$t o* interpret%tion3 D%ner be%r) no e))enti%l7 ne$e))%r67 or

unproblem%ti$ rel%tion to t(e %$tion or e9ent *rom (i$( it i) )%i to eri9e not %ll ri).) %re e:u%l7 %n

not %ll ri).) %re interprete %) %ner)3K

A) t(i) )ue)t)7 %ner i) % $ommoit67 % politi$%l re)our$e3 +o)t)tru$tur%l %n%l6)i)

ure) u) to %n%l6)e (o t(i) $ommoit6 $ir$ul%te) in publi$ i)$our)e3 -(e %r on terror

repre)ent) %n 0e$onom6 o* %ner#% i)$ur)i9e )tr%te6 b6 (i$( t(e o9ernment

$on)er9e) %n (u)b%n) t(e publi$ per$eption o* %ner )o t(%t t(e $ommoit6 i) u)e

mo)t e**i$ientl6 in t(e pur)uit o* poli$6 o%l)3 -(u)7 olin +oell on t(e m%nitue o* t(e

%l%e% t(re%t,

We8re t%l.in )e9er%l t(ou)%n7 m%6be m%n6 t(ou)%n)3 We8re not entirel6 )ure -(e68re e9er6(ere3

-(e68re in Europe7 t(e68re in Ameri$%3 Jou $%n *in $onne$tion) to t(em %ll %roun3 An e (%9e to et

t(em %ll7 or el)e e ill %l%6) (%9e % eree o* un$ert%int6 %n % eree o* in)e$urit6 it(in not onl6

Ameri$%n )o$iet6 but it(in )o$ietie) %ll o9er t(e orl3M

-(e mor%l outr%e o* t(e 11 September %tt%$.) i) m%r)(%lle toet(er it( *%mili%r trope)

o* t(e b%rb%ri%n to %$(ie9e % )el*perpetu%tin )6)tem (erein %ner i) $ir$ul%te %) %

problem to (i$( t(e onl6 )olution i) % 9iolent Ameri$%n *orein poli$63 -(e %r onterror pro9ie) % mur.6 enem6 im%e *or Ameri$% to %tt%$.7 %n ill $ontinue to pro9ie

% ne%rlimitle)) )et o* enemie)3 W(o i) t(e enem6& Will t(e Unite St%te) )tri.e %%in)t

t(e Iri)( 'epubli$%n Arm67 t(e B%):ue )ep%r%ti)t mo9ement7 E-A7 Sri L%n.%8) -%mil-ier)#%ll potenti%l t%ret) in % 0%r on terror& Or %re t(e enemie) o* t(e Unite St%te)

re)tri$te to $ountrie) it( little e$onomi$ or milit%r6 poer&

Bu)( %rue) t(%t t(e o9ert(ro o* S%%m


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ne9er been e)t%bli)(e3 6 prim%r6 %))ertion i) t(%t t(e Bu)( %mini)tr%tion (%) %$$epte t(e loi$ o* t(e $l%)(

o* $i9ili)%tion)7 %n $on)e:uentl6 oe) not %nt t(e ob@e$t) o* it) 9iolen$e to in9o.e t(e

.in$ountr6 )6nrome3 -(i) re)ult) in % ne .in o* $ultur%l $ont%inment7 (ereb6

Ameri$% m%.e) %r %%in)t ini9iu%l) or roup)7 but not 9%lue) or reliion)3 B6 t(i) I o

not me%n t(e u)u%l .in o* politi$%l meton6m6 b6 (i$( % le%er )t%n) *or t(e entire

$ountr63 '%t(er7 I me%n t(e politi$%l )tr%te6 t(%t ienti*ie) p%rti$ul%r boie) %) t(e ob@e$t

o* 9iolen$e %n )t%te$r%*t7 )u$( %) S%%m u%mm%r %%*i7 Abu Ni%l7>%nuel Norie%7 or O)%m% bin L%en7 (o %re )ep%r%te *rom t(eir n%tion%l popul%tion)3

-(e e$. o* $%r) repre)entin t(e US mo)t%nte li)t in po)tin9%)ion Ir%: i)

emblem%ti$ o* t(i) ie% o* 0)tr%tei$ ini9iu%li)%tion7 b6 (i$( I me%n t(e t%retin o*

ini9iu%l) b6 Ameri$%n )t%te$r%*t#ini9iu%l boie) t(%t )t%n in *or t(e ie%) t(e6 %re

t%.en to repre)ent =terror7 %ntiAmeri$%ni)m7 *un%ment%li)m?3 On t(e roun7 t(e)e

ini9iu%l boie) o*ten e9%e $%pture or e%t( =%%*i rem%in) in poer7 bin L%en %n


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S%%m


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Settin %)ie t(e un$om*ort%ble :ue)tion o* t(e %b)ent e%pon) o* m%)) e)tru$tion7 t(e

USle $o%lition8) in9%)ion o* Ir%: %) *iure in term) o* reime $(%ne3 Ameri$%n

)olier) in po)t%r Ir%: %re no *%$e it( % poli$in mi))ion *or (i$( t(e6 %re

unprep%re3 -(%rte in t(eir e**ort to (%n S%%m


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%**ili%tion it( Ameri$% in)ul%te) it *rom Europe%n %n ot(er pre))ure3 >oreo9er7 US

ome)ti$ )upport *or I)r%el7 pre$i)el6 ue to t(e e:u%tin o* t(e I)r%eli %n Ameri$%n

%r) on terror7 $ir$um)$ribe) t(e %mount o* pre))ure (i$( Ameri$% it)el* $%n brin to

be%r on I)r%el3

;in%ll67 t(e m%nner in (i$( I)r%el (%) pro)e$ute oper%tion 0De*en)i9e S(iel relie)on t(e po)tmoern eterritori%li)%tion o* %r3 -(e territor6 o* +%le)tine %) %n entit6 (%)

been i)%re%te3 -(ere i) no 0t(ere t(ere7 to p%r%p(r%)e Gertrue Stein3 -(ere i) no

$on)oli%te7 $ontiuou) +%le)tini%n territor63 '%t(er7 t(ere i) % )erie) o* ton)7 9ill%e)

%n re*uee $%mp)7 )ep%r%te b6 I)r%eli )ettlement)7 ro%)7 %n b6p%))e)3 -(rou( $ontrol

o* t(e mei% %n % $%re*ul $on)tru$tion o* im%e) o* 9iolen$e7 bot( t(e I)r%eli %n

Ameri$%n milit%rie) %re %ble to pro9ie im%e) o* %r (i$( %re )%niti)e o* %n6 re%l

9i$tim)3 -(e ob@e$t) o* 9iolen$e7 +%le)tini%n boie)7 %re ob)$ure *rom publi$ 9ie

t(rou( $ur*e) %n poli$in until t(e6 %re %$ti9el6 in$%r$er%te3 -(e I)r%eli o9ernment

$l%im) t(%t it) %im i) not to reo$$up6 perm%nentl6 t(e %re%) $ee to t(e +%le)tini%n

Aut(orit67 %lt(ou( b6 )t%tin t(%t t(i) i) not it) pre)ent o%l it m%.e) $le%r t(%treo$$up%tion i) )till % poli$6 option (i$( (%) been $on)iere3 Be$%u)e t(i) o$$up%tion

i) 0tempor%r67 I)r%el8) milit%r6 in9%)ion i) )ome(o tr%n)mute into %n %ntiterrori)t

%$tion3 Be$%u)e t(ere i) no +%le)tini%n )t%te#%n $on)e:uentl6 no +%le)tini%n publi$)p%$e#t(e I)r%eli milit%r6 m%6 in9%e re*uee $%mp)7 +%le)tini%n (ome)7 %n e9en t(e

)e%t o* +%le)tini%n o9ernment3 -(e eterritori%li)%tion o* %r*%re %n t(e i)%re%tion

o* +%le)tine m%.e I)r%eli milit%r6 %$tion) i)%ppe%r3

-(e US %r on terrori)m %tt%$(e) % ne import%n$e to % $ert%in t6pe o* non)t%te %$tor7

n%mel67 t(o)e t(%t %re %ntiAmeri$%n %n 9iolent3 -(e t%$ti$ o* )tr%tei$ ini9iu%li)%tion

*%$ilit%te) t(e )moot( *un$tionin o* t(e e$onom6 o* %ner3 Ienti*6in ini9iu%l) %)t%ret) o* US *orein poli$6 m%.e) t(eir p%$i*i$%tion %n repent%n$e immei%tel6 9i)ible

on t(e lob%l )t%e =or r%t(er7 e**e$t) t(eir i)%ppe%r%n$e *rom t(e lob%l )t%e?7 (ile %t

t(e )%me time $re%tin %n enle)) popul%tion o* %nerou) ini9iu%l) to be t%rete3

Conclusions

>6 prim%r6 %rument in t(i) p%per i) t(%t t(e %r on terror =%n terrori)t)? repre)ent) %n

openene )tr%te6 (o)e %im i) not t(e u%r%ntee o* )e$urit6 *or Ameri$%n 9%lue)7

Ameri$%n li9e)7 or Ameri$%n $%pit%l7 but r%t(er % $ir$ul%tion o* %ner to %$(ie9e t(e

e4p%n)ion o* Ameri$%n intere)t) %n t(e $ontrol o* ini9iu%l)3

De)pite t(e empiri$%l %n norm%ti9e $riti$i)m) m%e o* S%muel


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publi$ repui%tion o* t(e $l%)( o* $i9ili)%tion)7 %n in p%rti$ul%r Bu)(8) pr%i)e o* I)l%m =i*

not o* Ir%n?7 $%n be )een %) p%rt o* %n %ttempt to pre9ent t(e .in o* $i9ili)%tion%l r%ll6in

(i$(

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Global Dialogue Volume 5