“Passing the Global Test:” A comparative analysis of the relationship of the United
States and the United Nations under the two Bush Administrations
Douglas J. Becker
University of Southern California
3518 Trousdale Parkway
MC 0043, Room 330, Von KleinSmid Center
School of International Relations
Los Angeles, CA 90089
213-821-2856
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“You know he is the wrong father to appeal to in terms of strength. There is a higher
father that I appeal to.” George W. Bush, when asked if he discussed his Iraq policy with
his father and former President George H. W. Bush (as quoted in the Washington Post,
4/17/04, p 1).
Introduction
It is rare in American politics that the son of a former President is himself elected
to the Presidency. Only John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, serves as precedent for
the election of George W. Bush to the Presidency to follow his father George H.W. Bush.
Fittingly the father lighthearted refers to his son at times as “my boy Quincy.” While
many saw the election of Bush the junior as a restoration following the eight-year Clinton
Presidency, the evidence suggests his approach to politics (and in particular foreign
policy) has some important dissimilarities to his father.
This essay will examine the role that the United Nations plays in the foreign
policy of both Bush Administrations. Both Presidents held office in an era of an
ascendant United Nations, freed from the constraints of the Cold War. Both were
interventionist Presidents who sought to use American power to advance its security and
norms. Both had famous and important wars against Iraq which also directly involved
the UN. Therefore, there are sufficient similarities to allow for a meaningful analysis of
the two Administrations policies toward the United Nations.
This essay will examine the differences of the two Bush Administrations in their
policies toward the United Nations. In particular, it will compare and contrast their
relative Iraq War policies with regard to the role of the United Nations. The selection of
their relative Iraq policies is admittedly reductionist, as the UN confronts issues across
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