TR
EN
Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy
Abstract
The United States has sought to legitimize its policies aimed at securing global hegemony by creating a dichotomy among global actors and presenting itself as the legitimate party. This study examines how the U.S. constructs a “freedom-oppression” dichotomy at the discursive level to legitimize its global leadership and how this dichotomy is sustained in its foreign policy discourse. In this context, the study uses discourse-historical analysis to compare and analyze Harry S. Truman’s discourse against the Soviet Union with George W. Bush’s discourse on terrorism and radical ideologies. The U.S. has constructed a discursive dichotomy by identifying itself with “freedom” and defining its opponents as “oppressive” in order to legitimize its global leadership. The study concludes that the U.S.’ foreign policy discourse positions “others” as “evil” from moral and political perspectives and defines itself “good” and savior over the “evil” nature of the “other”. This traditional method continues to be used. This discursive pattern has been assessed as an institutionalized reflection of exceptionalism in the foreign policy of the U.S. Recognizing these parallels and evaluating developments through this lens is essential for adopting the most appropriate strategic posture in future crises.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
This research received no external funding.
Ethical Statement
This research does not necessitate approval of an ethics committee. This study does not involve human or animal participants. All procedures followed scientific and ethical principles, and all referenced studies are appropriately cited.
Thanks
The author do not wish to acknowledge any individual or institution
References
- Anggarini, Y. & Khoirunnisa, K. (2025) America’s Strategy through the quadrilateral security dialogue (Quad) alliance in countering the chinese threat in the joe biden administration. Politeia: Journal of Public Administration and Political Science and International Relations, 3(3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.61978/politeia.v3i3.565
- Ataç, K. K. & Çam, M. M. (2020) Soğuk Savaş: Amerikan Büyük Stratejisi, Johnson Doktrini ve Kıbrıs. Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi, 16(35), 595-634. https://doi.org/10.17752/guvenlikstrtj.807007
- Brown, L. M. (2007). The greats and the great debate: President William J. Clinton’s use of presidential examples. Presidential Studies Quarterly, 37(1), 124–138. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-5705.2007.02588.x
- Brzezinski, Z. (1997) The Grand Chessboard: American primacy and its geostrategic imperatives. Basic Books.
- Buzan, B., Wæver, O., & de Wilde, J. (1998). Security: A new framework for analysis. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
- Çam, M. M. (2024). Amerika Birleşik Devletleri Büyük Stratejisi: Soğuk Savaş (1945–1961) [Doctoral dissertation, Milli Savunma Üniversitesi Atatürk Stratejik Araştırmalar ve Lisansüstü Eğitim Enstitüsü].
- Campbell, D. (1992). Writing security: United States foreign policy and the politics of identity. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
- Ceaser, J. W. (2012) The origins and character of American exceptionalism. American Political Thought, 1(1), 3-28.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
American Studies, Politics in International Relations
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
December 31, 2025
Submission Date
July 11, 2025
Acceptance Date
December 18, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Volume: 5 Number: 2
APA
Önem, A. M. (2025). Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy. Journal of Economics and Political Sciences(Türkiye), 5(2), 36-53. https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF
AMA
1.Önem AM. Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy. JEP. 2025;5(2):36-53. https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF
Chicago
Önem, Atilla Mert. 2025. “Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy”. Journal of Economics and Political Sciences(Türkiye) 5 (2): 36-53. https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF.
EndNote
Önem AM (December 1, 2025) Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy. Journal of Economics and Political Sciences(Türkiye) 5 2 36–53.
IEEE
[1]A. M. Önem, “Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy”, JEP, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 36–53, Dec. 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF
ISNAD
Önem, Atilla Mert. “Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy”. Journal of Economics and Political Sciences(Türkiye) 5/2 (December 1, 2025): 36-53. https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF.
JAMA
1.Önem AM. Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy. JEP. 2025;5:36–53.
MLA
Önem, Atilla Mert. “Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy”. Journal of Economics and Political Sciences(Türkiye), vol. 5, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 36-53, https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF.
Vancouver
1.Atilla Mert Önem. Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy. JEP [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 1;5(2):36-53. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF