The relocation of the United States Embassy in 2017 from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem came as a surprise to many. Previous administrations had decided to waive the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, that demanded the US embassy be moved to Jerusalem. In thesis two separate hypothesis will be analyzed from two respective theoretical perspectives: Ideational liberalism and defensive structural realism. Domestic ideational preferences and their transmission through legitimate actors, as well as threats to US interests in the region will be examined for their potential to cause a deviation from the antecedent policy.
This thesis concludes, that domestic policy preferences in fact caused the Trump- administration to shift away from this established precedent, proving the ideational liberalism hypothesis correct.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. THEORETICAL APPROACH I: LIBERALISM
- 2.1 IDEATIONAL LIBERALISM
- 2.2 OPERATIONALIZATION AND HYPOTHESIS – IDEATIONAL LIBERALISM
- 3. THEORETICAL APPROACH II: STRUCTURAL REALISM
- 3.1 DEFENSIVE STRUCTURAL REALISM
- 3.2 OPERATIONALIZATION AND HYPOTHESIS - STRUCTURAL REALISM
- 4. EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS I – IDEATIONAL LIBERALISM
- 4.1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE
- 4.2 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
- 4.3 UNITED STATES SENATE - COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
- 4.4 UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
- 4.5 ORGANIZATIONS AND LOBBY GROUPS
- 5. EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS II – STRUCTURAL REALISM
- 5.1 IRAN
- 5.2 PALESTINE
- 5.3 SAUDI-ARABIA
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis aims to understand the reasons behind the relocation of the United States Embassy in 2017 from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. The thesis explores the deviation from the established precedent set by previous administrations, which had consistently deferred the implementation of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. This analysis focuses on two main theoretical perspectives: ideational liberalism and defensive structural realism.
- The role of domestic policy preferences and their influence on foreign policy decisions.
- The potential for ideational liberalism to explain policy shifts in the context of US-Israel relations.
- The assessment of threats to US interests in the region and their potential impact on policy choices.
- The applicability of defensive structural realism in understanding the relocation of the embassy as a balancing move.
- The analysis of relevant actors within the US government and their roles in shaping foreign policy regarding Jerusalem.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Chapter 1: Introduction introduces the topic of the United States embassy relocation and highlights the key research question: why was the embassy moved from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017? The chapter explores the historical context of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and the previous administrations' decisions to defer its implementation.
- Chapter 2: Theoretical Approach I: Liberalism examines the theoretical framework of ideational liberalism, focusing on its emphasis on domestic policy preferences and their influence on foreign policy. This chapter outlines the theoretical logic and relevant axioms of this approach, providing a detailed explanation of the operationalization of ideational liberalism and the hypothesis derived from this perspective.
- Chapter 3: Theoretical Approach II: Structural Realism analyzes the theoretical framework of defensive structural realism, emphasizing the potential for external threats to influence foreign policy decisions. This chapter discusses the core elements of this approach and its focus on balancing strategies. It then outlines the operationalization of defensive structural realism and presents the hypothesis stemming from this perspective.
- Chapter 4: Empirical Analysis I – Ideational Liberalism provides a detailed examination of the empirical cases through the lens of the ideational liberalism hypothesis. This chapter analyzes changes in personnel within relevant US government departments, examining subsequent policy changes and identifying their potential ideational preferences. Additionally, it explores the role of legislative committees on foreign relations and their interactions with pro-Israel groups.
- Chapter 5: Empirical Analysis II – Structural Realism explores potential threats to US interests in the region from the perspective of the defensive structural realism hypothesis. This chapter examines the behavior of specific countries, such as Iran, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia, and assesses their potential to influence US policy regarding Jerusalem.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The research focuses on the relocation of the United States embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017. The main themes are: US foreign policy, Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, ideational liberalism, defensive structural realism, domestic policy preferences, threats to US interests, and the impact of key actors within the US government on foreign policy decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the US Embassy relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017?
The relocation was a shift away from established precedent. According to the thesis, this change was primarily driven by domestic policy preferences within the Trump administration, supporting the ideational liberalism hypothesis.
What is the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995?
The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 is a US law that demanded the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem. Previous administrations had consistently used waivers to defer its implementation until the 2017 decision.
Which theoretical frameworks are used to analyze the embassy relocation?
The analysis utilizes two main theoretical perspectives: ideational liberalism, which focuses on domestic preferences, and defensive structural realism, which examines external threats to national interests.
What role did regional actors like Iran and Saudi Arabia play in the analysis?
From the perspective of defensive structural realism, the behavior of regional actors like Iran, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia was examined to determine if the relocation was a balancing move against threats to US interests.
How does ideational liberalism explain the policy shift?
Ideational liberalism suggests that foreign policy is influenced by domestic ideational preferences transmitted through legitimate actors. The thesis concludes that these internal preferences caused the Trump administration to deviate from antecedent policy.
Which US government bodies were examined in the empirical analysis?
The study analyzed the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as various pro-Israel lobby groups.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2021, The Relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1066578
