Neo-Conservatives, Democracy Promotoin and American Foreign Policy

Year 2012, , 159 - 187, 01.03.2012

Gökhan Telatar

https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002258

Abstract

Preservation and strengthening of American hegemony and spreading of democracy across the world are two important elements of foreign policy approach of neo-conservatives. Developments which generated the neo-conservatism as a new stream of thought also generated idea of democracy promotion in the neo-conservatism. Democracy promotion has been in foreign policy approach of the neo-conservatives as a realizable aim since 1980s. Democracy promotion was perceived by the neo-conservatives as the best option which can fill the ideological gap in the American foreign policy in post-Cold War era. The neoconservatives in George W. Bush administration were effective in making of active policies for spread democracy. Arab Spring is a test case to check sincerity of the neo-conservatives who supported democratization of the Middle East after the September 11 attacks. 

Keywords

Neo-conservatism, democracy promotion, national interest, good and evil regimes, Arab Spring

Yeni Muhafazakarlar, Demokrasinin Yayılması ve Amerikan Dış Politikası

Abstract

Amerikan hegemonyasının korunması ve güçlendirilmesi ile demokrasinin dünya geneline yayılması yeni muhafazakârların dış politika yaklaşımının iki önemli unsurdur. Yeni muhafazakârlığın yeni bir düşünce akımı olarak ortaya çıkmasına yol açan gelişmeler, yeni muhafazakârlıkta demokrasinin yayılması düşüncesinin de ortaya çıkmasına neden olmuştur. Demokrasinin yayılması yeni muhafazakârların dış politika yaklaşımında gerçekleştirilebilir bir amaç olarak 1980’lerden itibaren yer almaya başlamıştır. Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde ise demokrasinin yayılması Amerikan dış politikasında oluşan ideolojik boşluğu doldurabilecek en iyi alternatif olarak görülmüştür. 11 Eylül sonrası dönemde George W. Bush’un demokrasinin yayılmasına yönelik aktif politikasında yönetim içinde görev yapan yeni muhafazakârlar etkili olmuştur. Arap Baharı ise bu dönemde Ortadoğu’nun demokratikleştirilmesini savunan yeni muhafazakârlar için bir samimiyet testi olmuştur.

Keywords

Yeni muhafazakârlık, demokrasinin yayılması, ulusal çıkar, iyi ve kötü rejimler, Arap Baharı

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