U.s. Neo-conservatives And The Bush Administration's Foreign Policy

Beginning with an analysis of the relations between American neoconservatism,liberalism and conservatism, this dissertation traces the rising and falling ofneoconservatism, sheds light on its basic ideas and arguments, and analyzes its impacton Bush administration's foreign policy. Neoconservatism budded in late1960s and early1970s. Seen from its extension, itis a kind of political thought represented by neoconservatives philosophicallyresponding to American politics of 1960s and 1970s. Seen from its connotation, itoriginated from liberalism, but has found its philosophical foundation in the theory of"Natural Right" founded by conservative political philosopher Leo Strauss. In thecourse of its theoretical construction, neoconservatism has drawn on the philosophicalessences of classical liberalism and traditional conservatism. As a political thought, neoconservatism has experienced ups and downs in itshistorical development. In 1960s and 1970s, neoconservatism changed its positionfrom liberalism to conservatism and made its own way in the policy debate of thattime. In the 1980s, a group of neoconservatives joined the Regan administration andput their diplomatic ideas into policies and practices, thus making neoconservatismwell-known to the world. With the end of the Cold War, neoconservatism once sankinto obscurity. The Bush administration, however, offered a chance forneoconservatism to recover its vigor and force and the happening of September 11Incident enhanced the prevalence of its policy arguments. Neoconservatives believe in the doctrines of the democratic peace and offensiverealism. Aimed at reconstructing the world, they pay much attention to the ideologicalfactors in foreign policy and actively promote America's liberal and democraticvalues. Meanwhile, they advocate the full use of American forces in dealing withforeign affairs and the challenges to America's national interests, calling for therealization of America's world leadership. After September 11, neoconservatives putforward the guideline of preemptive war against terrorist organizations and thenations seeking WMD and the idea of regime change in so called rogue states. The inclination of Bush administration to neoconservatism makes it possible forthe latter to dominate the strategic thinking and policy choice of the former. TheIncident of September 11 turned this possibility into reality. The neoconservativeinfluence on Bush administration's foreign policy is reflected in the fact that America Vnot only launched the preemptive war against Iraq aiming at the regime change, butalso has started the democratic experiment in Middle East with Iraq as the cuttingedge. On the other hand, Bush administration once adopted tough China policy,causing the tension and instability in Sino-U.S. relations. The Iraq War symbolized the peak of neoconservative influences upon Bushadministration's foreign policy. Nevertheless, neoconservatism faces a number ofchallenges. Seen from the social basis, economic capacity, diplomatic pressure andinternational structure, neoconservatism has a long way to go before it really wins the"war of ideas". Currently, the Iraq War is a double-edge sword for neoconservatism.The result of the reconstruction of Iraq will directly decide the future influence anddevelopment of neoconservatism.