How Bush Bungled Asia

Speaker: Professor T. J. Pempel, Political Science, University of California, Berkeley

Supporters of the Bush Administration argue that Americas relations with Asia, unlike its worsened ties with Europe, the Middle East and much of Latin America, are quite positive and have even improved since Bush took office. Some even argue that Iraq policies have contributed to that perceived improvement. This talk will assess those claims and argue to the contrary that Asian popular attitudes toward the US have deteriorated since 9/11. More importantly, the Bush administration has failed to connect effectively to Asia in three vital areas: 1) an over militarization of foreign policy when Asia is moving in the opposite direction; 2) misplaced economic policies at home that have weakened Americas ability to shape Asian economic developments; 3) an over emphasis on unilateralism that has caused the US to miss being part of a new Asian regionalism.

Category:

Education

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