Date of Submission

5-11-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in National Security

Department

National Security

Advisor

Steven Sherman, M.S

Keywords

War on Terror, U.S. Unilateralism, Afghanistan, Iraq, U.S. Presence in the Middle East, Anti-Americanism

LCSH

United States--Relations--Islamic countries, Unilateral acts (International law), Anti-Americanism

Abstract

This thesis will explore the effects of the United States' unilateral actions throughout the war on terror. Has the United States pursuing unilateral actions in Afghanistan and Iraq equated to an increase in anti-Americanism, leading to increasing terrorist acts that endanger its national security? The answer is yes. Although, from what this research will reveal anti-Americanism begins to be refueled in these countries but not due to any current direct conflict between the above-referenced nation-states and the United States. Previous research reveals that the United States' relationship with unilateralism was not a new phenomenon that arose during the war on terror, but a practice that could have been mistaken for isolationism. Existing literature details the United States' relationship with Afghanistan and Iraq leading up to the war on terror and the United States' unilateral mission to not only combat terrorism but spread democracy. Subsequent reports from the U.S. Government, interviews, and news articles reveal that although the United States is not fully to blame for the turmoil in Afghanistan and the past conflict in Iraq its continued presence in the Middle East threatens its national security. Especially due to the current war in Gaza raising sentiments of anti-Americanism once more.

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