This thesis researched the extent to which Bush and Obama used different conceptual metaphorical frames in their rhetoric concerning the Iraq War, and to what extent these frames helped them create...Show moreThis thesis researched the extent to which Bush and Obama used different conceptual metaphorical frames in their rhetoric concerning the Iraq War, and to what extent these frames helped them create a worldview that justified or opposed the Iraq War. The thesis argued that Bush and Obama both use the same metaphorical model, in which they create a hero, villain, and a victim, to justify or oppose the Iraq War. Whereas the existing literature mainly focused on the use of metaphorical framing in a political context, this thesis looks at the political context concerning war. The thesis specifically contributes to the existing literature on metaphorical framing in a war context, and the "Fairytale of a Just War theory" by George Lakoff, because it shows that telling a story in which there is a hero, villain, and a victim can be used to tell a different story than the story in which war is justifiedShow less
This dissertation will analyze the George W. Bush and Obama administrations with regard to foreign policy toward Iran. As these two presidents took office after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this...Show moreThis dissertation will analyze the George W. Bush and Obama administrations with regard to foreign policy toward Iran. As these two presidents took office after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this paper will be analyzing their foreign policy decisions and approaches toward Iran in the context of the War on Terror. Right after the 9/11 attacks, George W. Bush designated Iran as part of the ‘axis of evil’ which he considered to be foreign governments that sponsored terrorism and sought weapons of mass destruction. Interestingly enough, when Bush launched the War on Terror military campaign, his plans included the invasion of several Middle-Eastern countries but excluded Iran. Iran was known to have nuclear capabilities but was never invaded. Under Bush, relations are considered to have worsened due to the 9/11 attacks, Iran’s suspected possession of nuclear weapons, and sanctions placed by the U.N. and the United States. When President Obama was elected in 2009 however, his approach to foreign policy dramatically shifted the political environment but ultimately resulted in improved relations between the two countries. The difference in approach to foreign policy, the tactics, and the results between Bush and Obama will be the focus of this research.Show less
This thesis considered the shift of soft power of the United States in relation to the foreign policy on war on terrorism during the Bush and Obama presidency. It considered three measurements of...Show moreThis thesis considered the shift of soft power of the United States in relation to the foreign policy on war on terrorism during the Bush and Obama presidency. It considered three measurements of soft power: (1) discourse in speeches regarding the war on terrorism, (2) allied support from the United Kingdom and Germany in joining three specific war on terrorism operations, (3) and polls from the United Kingdom and Germany in relation to the foreign policy on the war on terrorism. These three measurements showed a shift in soft power of the United States in relation to the war on terrorism from 2001 to 2016: in comparison to the decline of soft power during the Bush presidency, the soft power was rising during the Obama presidency.Show less
This thesis examines the following research question: how did US Arctic policy concerning oil drilling change from 2001-2017 (Bush and Obama administration)? By researching this question, this...Show moreThis thesis examines the following research question: how did US Arctic policy concerning oil drilling change from 2001-2017 (Bush and Obama administration)? By researching this question, this thesis will examine how their policy discourses and actual policy strategies differed from each other. The thesis contains a comparative case studies between the Bush and Obama administrations, and gives an insight in the debate about (current) energy challenges and environmental issues. The theoretical framework is drawn from constructivist and discursive approaches, and consists of different elements which are subject to individual discourse analysis.Show less
This thesis looked at U.S. counterterrorism policies and strategy in Yemen during the precidencies of Bush and Obama, and how those were related to the decline of state power in Yemen. It...Show moreThis thesis looked at U.S. counterterrorism policies and strategy in Yemen during the precidencies of Bush and Obama, and how those were related to the decline of state power in Yemen. It demonstrated that both presidents had a different approach towards the country. Whereas Bush's policies were rather reactive to the developments in Yemen, Obama instead drafted a plan and stuck with it, even though there were major changes in the country during his tenure.Show less
The War on Terror was initiated by President George W. Bush as a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The War on Terror was not just a concept, it was a range of strategies,...Show moreThe War on Terror was initiated by President George W. Bush as a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The War on Terror was not just a concept, it was a range of strategies, ideologies and expectations to justify the American response to the attacks and an expression around which the American public could rally. It shaped the nature and the scope of the American counterterrorism strategy to the terrorist attacks, into a specific form of conflict. This thesis demonstrates what the two different counterterrorism strategies entailed, and the different interpretations President Bush and President Obama gave to the War on Terror. Bush approached the attacks as an ‘act of war’, and rationalized the event through the Just War theory. Whereas Obama framed the conflict as a ‘crime’, of which the perpetrators should be brought to justice, in order to end the conflict as quickly as possible. During his campaign, Obama gave the impression of a foreign policy strategy that radically moved away from Bush. However, Bush had embedded a strong hegemonic discourse regarding the War on Terror in society. This social structure was complex to change, since it was entrenched in rhetoric, media and real-life institutions. Thus, Obama faced great difficulty during his first term, in order to change this hegemonic discourse, and was severely limited in executing his intended foreign policy regarding the Middle East.Show less
