@article{article_1736243, title={Legitimization and Discourse Continuity in the United States Grand Strategy}, journal={Journal of Economics and Political Sciences(Türkiye)}, volume={5}, pages={36–53}, year={2025}, url={https://izlik.org/JA94DE46MF}, author={Önem, Atilla Mert}, keywords={Söylem Sürekliliği, George W. Bush, Büyük Strateji, Hary S. Truman, Meşrulaştırma}, 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.}, number={2}, organization={This research received no external funding.}