Ideational and Discursive Othering in US Foreign Policy: A Historical Survey in the Image of Post-Structuralism

Abstract

This paper examines the societal and ideational sources of United States foreign policy by emphasizing the role of values, beliefs, identity, and political culture in shaping public opinion and foreign policy decisions. It argues that American foreign policy is not driven solely by structural or material interests, but is discursively constructed through concepts such as American Exceptionalism, Manifest Destiny, liberal democracy, and the politics of “otherness.” Drawing on post-structuralist and constructivist perspectives, the paper explains how political elites and media employ identity-based discourses to securitize threats and legitimize wars. Through historical analysis ranging from the early republic to the post-9/11 era, the study demonstrates that U.S. foreign interventions have consistently been justified through moral narratives and perceived threats to American values and collective identity.