The end of World War II (WWII) marked an important moment for the United States (US), given that it saw the nation establish its status as the world’s hegemon. The government understood that it had to do whatever it took to maintain this status, including developing fundamental foreign policy. Consequently, the US became an indispensable nation in global affairs, promoting democracy and prosperity among different regions (Oren & Oren, 2007). For instance, the US government was at the forefront of fighting human rights abuses and dictatorship, which hinders individual nations from enjoying their freedom and democracy. The American government worked tirelessly toward developing diplomatic, military, and economic engagement to strengthen individual nations (Cox & Stokes, 2018). Based on these efforts, many people considered the US a pillar of international security that halted the spread of aggression of rogue regimes.
As part of its diplomatic agenda, the US government offered extensive support to different countries within the Middle East region after WWII to prevent the Soviet Union from gaining influence over the area. The American government focused more on the Israeli state that appeared hard-pressed by the Arab nations at the peak of the Israeli-Arab conflicts (Oren & Oren, 2007). The US also protected Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to guarantee a stable flow of oil produced. In other words, the American government’s main agenda in the post-WWII era was to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and military engagement in the Middle-East region.
Based on these factors, it is clear that the US involvement in the Middle East during the post-WWII season was pure and focused on the region’s interests. However, secularization created significant changes in the foreign policy in this area, given that the government bases its focus on personal interests rather than regional ones. For instance, the 9/11 attack against the US perpetrated by the terrorists who had sought refuge in the Middle-East region saw the American government deploy military personnel to guarantee that the terrorists fled from this region (Cox & Strokes, 2018). In other words, rather than concentrating on maintaining peace in the region, the government deployed military troops to alleviate the domination of any power hostile to the US and its citizens. Nevertheless, the US military presence in the region still focuses on ensuring a stable flow of the global energy market.
Consequently, these aspects indicate a change in foreign policy through the post-WWII era and the secularization period. The American government showed pure interest in the region during the post-WWII era. Its main agenda was to ensure that the Middle East remained peaceful while protecting the interests of the Israeli nation that seemed hard-pressed by the Arabs nations surrounding it (Knutsen, 2020). Its main interest was to ensure that individual countries enjoyed democratic freedom without any form of oppression. Additionally, the US government focused more on avoiding the influence of the Soviet Union in the region.
However, this changed with time, an aspect one can attribute to secularization. During this era, individuals seemed to focus more on their personal benefits rather than those of their neighbors. This aspect is made evident by the American government sending military troops to the Middle East to ensure that the US and its citizens were free from any harm that might emerge from the region (Knutsen, 2020). The government did not withdraw its troops from the region regardless of the immense loss of lives from both sides. Based on this argument, it is appropriate to conclude that the changes occurred due to secularization.
References
Cox, M., & Stokes, D. (2018). US foreign policy. Oxford university press. ISBN: 9780198707578
Knutsen, T. L. (2020). A history of international relations theory. In A history of international relations theory (third edition). Manchester university press. ISBN: 9781784997274
Oren, M. B., & Oren, S. F. M. B. (2007). Power, faith, and fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the present. WW Norton & Company.