The Foreign Service Journal, February 2005

Why Do They Hate Us? Understanding Anti-Americanism: Its Origins and Impact at Home and Abroad Paul Hollander, editor, Ivan R. Dee Publisher, 2004, $18.24, hardcover, 372 pages. R EVIEWED BY C HRISTOPHER T EAL “You put someone on the moon, so why couldn’t the U.S. take all the water from the Amazon?” Someone asked me that during an embassy event in Peru in early 2004. As crazy as the question seemed, it prompted many in the audience to nod their agreement with the premise that America wanted to do such a thing. Peruvians are far from alone in this attitude: it is truly amazing to see how much power and malicious intent are ascribed to the United States around the world. Whether these suspicions stem from distorted information or a lack of critical (or realistic) thinking, or both, they greatly hinder the transmit- tal of our messages to foreign audi- ences, spurring resentment and even anger at America. That is the challenge for the mod- ern diplomat. The perceptions that foreign publics have about our country can often be so far removed from the truth as to be comical. But given that perception is reality, understanding and addressing anti-Americanism requires unmasking these perceptions and finding their root causes. Toward that end, Understanding Anti-Americanism: Its Origins and Impact at Home and Abroad , a com- pilation of 15 essays edited by University of Massachusetts professor Paul Hollander, serves as an impor- tant source for those concerned about foreign public opinion. In his intro- duction, Hollander lists five factors that he believes explain anti- Americanism: the fall of communism (and decline of an alternative “pole” of power); U.S. power and superior military capabilities; the personal qualities of President Bush; globaliza- tion; and Arab fundamentalism (and other cultural antagonisms). The notion of America as an ideal — as communism or fascism might have been in the past — is a particular target of criticism, ridicule and even attack. But what is it about the American ideal that stirs hatred? Contributor James Ceasar answers that question by pointing to a real ambivalence about modernity throughout the world. Whether it’s the belief in South America that the U.S. is trying to steal the Amazon’s headwaters, or religious extremists in the Middle East pushing their brand of fundamentalism, this ambivalence about change and loss of tradition leads to actions ranging from simple intellectual hostility to more violent expressions aimed at America and the West. Accordingly, anti-Americanism — which Ceasar identifies as the only current global “ideology” — has become the focus of a new generation of activists across the world, anxious to find a scapegoat for their problems and complaints. In particular, many of the sundry “isms” discussed here are rooted in resistance to globalization. One principal strength of this work is that it analyzes several regions. The collection includes, for instance, an insightful chapter by current FSO David Brooks on the Latin American strain of anti-Americanism. It is regrettable, however, that just one chapter is devoted to the Middle East variant, particularly as so much of the global “war on terror” is centered there. It is also highly disappointing that the discussion of anti-American- ism here in the U.S. seldom rises above a polemical condemnation of the left. Those shortcomings aside, this col- lection of essays makes a crucial point: the U.S. is synonymous with moderni- ty and globalization throughout the world, and will continue to face a backlash on that account. For that insight, as well as many others, Understanding Anti-Americanism is a useful tool to spur thinking about the subject of anti-Americanism and how to combat it. n Christopher Teal, an FSO since 1999, is currently a desk officer in the European Bureau and a member of the FSJ Editorial Board. The opinions expressed herein are his own. F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 65 B OOKS Understanding and addressing anti-Americanism requires understanding that perception is reality. w