A comparative analysis of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administration's foreign policy in the context of the war on terror : case study : Pakistan

Abstract

Terrorism has been a top national security threat for the U.S. following the attacks of 11 September 2001. For over a decade U.S. foreign policy has given much priority to this threat in order to prevent future attacks on the homeland. This led to the country initiating a Global War on Terror and re-engaging with Pakistan to fight this war. This dissertation presents an analytical overview and comparison of the U.S. foreign policy of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama Administrations in the context of the War on Terror, focusing on U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relations. Its aim is to analyse and establish if and where there has been change and continuity in the foreign and Pakistan policy of the U.S. from the Bush Administration to that of Obama. The dissertation tries to assert U.S. foreign policy interests in the war, explains the motives of such interests and seeks to explain consequent U.S. foreign policy behaviour and outcomes of both administrations with regards to Pakistan. With both presidents coming from two different political backgrounds, Bush being a Republican and Obama a Democrat, it was expected that there would be a shift in U.S. foreign and Pakistan policy from one administration to the other. Yet the dissertation argues that in substance there has been little change in the foreign policy area with regards to the War on Terror and the fight against terrorism. However, although there has been continuity to a certain extent, there was change when it came to the style and how to go about such policies. This has been reflected in the case of Pakistan and U.S. bilateral relations with the country. Therefore it can be said that there has been change within continuity when comparing both the Bush and the Obama Administration’s foreign policy and bilateral relations with Pakistan during the war.