George W. Bush a revolutionary president? : the picture of "the others": an analysis of political speeches by George W. Bush and Harry S. Truman

Abstract

There are ongoing debates about the concept of continuity and discontinuity in American foreign policy. This research has focused on whether the controversial George W. Bush`s rhetoric can be seen as radical new or as a traditional element in American foreign policy. According to researchers such as Sven Melby, Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsay, George W. Bush can be seen as a revolutionary president. George W. Bush rhetoric was aggressive and dualistic. With his polarization of the world into good and evil spheres, he must carry much of the responsibility for his hawkish image, they claim. Not all agrees to a presentation like this one. Researchers such as Melvyn P. Leffler, John Lewis Gaddis, Robert Kagan and Walter Russell Mead argue more for continuity. Walter Russell Mead operates with four traditions in American policy. According to Mead, these traditions were present under Bush. These traditions are: Hamiltonian, Jeffersonian, Wilsonian, and Jacksonian. In searching for answers, this research investigated speeches and statements from two American president`s by focusing on time of crisis and the relation to “the others.” The controversial Harry S. Truman`s rhetoric has been compared with George W. Bush`s in relation to the Wilsonian and Jacksonian traditions. Truman and Bush can be seen as representatives not only for the Wilsonian and the Jacksonian tradition, but also the same aspects and variations within these typologies. Looking at it historically, it can be discussed whether Bush`s sharp tone was a new phenomenon in American politics. An aggressive and dualistic style seems to be little revolutionary in American politics. Much indicates that George W. Bush was one of several carriers of continuity in the U.S. politics.