“Friendly Tyrants” as the Constant Impasse of US Foreign Policy: The Case of Egypt and the “Fear of Worse”

Year 2023, Volume: 78 Issue: 2, 235 - 258, 07.06.2023

Can Donduran

https://doi.org/10.33630/ausbf.1023632

Abstract

Throughout history, the primary determinant of US foreign policy has long been the inherent dilemma arising from the tension between commitment to liberal values and the requirements of security interests. These two oft-contradicting elements have been at the heart of the country's preferences at the international level and sometimes generated controversial decisions. This article focuses on the origins and contemporary reflections of the friendly tyrants problem -an inevitable product of the inherent dilemma of US foreign policy. The impasse, nurtured by the constant tendency of the USA to form its foreign policy strategy through opposition to an "other", which is mostly demonized, and the resulting "fear of worse", became particularly evident during the Cold War. Based on the process-tracing method, this study examines the evolution of the friendly tyrants problem and analyzes its current reflections through the Egyptian example. The changes observed in the US-Egypt relations after the Arab Spring are far from creating a radical transformation at the root of the impasse. The friendly tyrants problem, influenced by international dynamics as well as the American political culture, its widespread foreign policy tendencies, and the long-standing behavioral pattern, maintains its central position today, especially regarding the Middle East-related issues. Therefore, the question of friendly tyrants has become a permanent problematic for US foreign policy, regardless of time, space, and the dynamics of the period under consideration. As such, the impasse is not limited to any period, region, or administration.

Keywords

Arab Spring, Egypt, Friendly Tyrants, Middle East, US Foreign Policy

Amerikan Dış Politikasının Daimî Açmazı “Dost Despotlar”: Mısır Örneği ve “Beterin Beteri Korkusu”

Abstract

Tarih boyunca ABD dış politikasının temel belirleyicisi, liberal değerlere bağlılık ve güvenlik çıkarlarının gereklilikleri arasındaki gerginlikten kaynaklanan içsel ikilem olagelmiştir. Zaman zaman örtüşse de genelde çelişen bu iki unsur, ülkenin uluslararası seviyedeki tercihlerinin temelinde yer alırken, zor seçimleri ve tartışmalı hamleleri de beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu ikilemden beslenen sorunların başında gelen dost despotlar açmazının kökenleri ve günümüzdeki yansımaları, bu makalenin odağını oluşturmaktadır. ABD’nin, dış politika stratejisini ekseriyetle şeytanileştirilen bir “öteki”ye karşıtlık üzerinden oluşturulması yönündeki daimî eğilimi ve buna bağlı olarak doğan “beterin beteri korkusu”ndan kaynaklanan bu açmaz, özellikle Soğuk Savaş döneminde oldukça belirginleşmiştir. Süreç izleme tekniğine yaslanan bu çalışma, dost despotlar ikileminin evrimini inceleyerek bugüne yansımalarını Mısır örneği üzerinden analiz etmektedir. Arap Baharı sonrasında ABD-Mısır ilişkilerinde gözlemlenen değişimler, açmazın kökeninde radikal bir dönüşüm yaratmaktan çok uzaktır. ABD’nin siyasal kültüründen, dış politikadaki yaygın eğilimlerinden ve tarih içerisinde şekillenen davranış modelinden beslendiği kadar uluslararası dinamiklerin etkisine de açık olan dost despotlar sorunu, günümüzde, özellikle Orta Doğu ile ilişkili meselelerde merkezi konumunu korumaktadır.
Söz konusu açmaz, zaman, mekân ve ortaya çıktığı dönemin dinamiklerinden bağımsız biçimde daimî bir dış politika sorunsalı haline gelmiştir. Bu haliyle dost despotlar, ABD dış politikasının tarihsel bir gerçeğidir ve herhangi bir dönem, bölge veya yönetimle sınırlı değildir.

Keywords

Amerikan Dış Politikası, Arap Baharı, Dost Despotlar, Mısır, Orta Doğu

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