Why They Hate Us

As Americans, we are often reminded that the vast majority of the world's Muslims are neither violent nor harbor animus toward Westerners; that only a few extremist elements are responsible for seemingly indiscriminate terrorist attacks in the United States and Western Europe. Indeed, the vast majority of the World's 1.3 billion Muslims are nonviolent. However, poll after poll indicates that Muslims, particularly Arab Muslims, are quite disgruntled toward the United States and affluent nations in Western Europe. This sentiment is not limited to the Islamic World; in fact, much of the developing world is similarly displeased with the West, especially the United States. This resentment is not entirely unwarranted. Decades of antagonistic American and European foreign policy and seemingly insurmountable levels of poverty throughout the developing world have encouraged support for our enemies and marginalized the meaningfulness of America's positive contributions to the development of impoverished nations. It is critical that the U.S. is seen as a desirable ally to populations, as opposed to political representatives. Only by reassessing our approach to foreign policy can the U.S. begin to win over discontented populations in the developing world.

On September 20, 2001, George Bush famously explained to a joint session of Congress and the American people that the Islamic extremists responsible for 9/11 "hate our freedoms - our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other." This maddeningly simplistic clarification, while not entirely useless, fails to take into account the economic factors which contribute to America's growing unpopularity. Third World populations may indeed be jealous of the freedoms which Americans enjoy, but they are surely equally envious of the wealth which Americans accumulate. "They hate our GDP" is an equally apt one-liner.

Moreover, much of the developing world believes that the United States and Western Europe generate and maintain this disproportionate affluence by plundering Third World resources and suppressing Third World populations. This perspicacity is particularly prevalent throughout the Middle East, where America's support for dictatorships in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and our continuing disregard for the rights of Palestinians validate these perceptions. The Bush administration's rhetorical support for democratic governance is understandably perceived to be disingenuous. Other aspects of America's foreign policy, much of which is dedicated to securing access to energy resources, are equally infuriating to many inhabitants of the developing world.

America's 2003 invasion of Iraq and the destructive consequences are particularly exasperating. Our perceived incompetence and disregard for national sovereignty has unquestionably popularized anti-Americanism and dissuaded America's few supporters in otherwise unfriendly nations like Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba. Approximately 70% of Iraqi's lack adequate water supplies; 90% of Iraq's hospitals lack basic supplies; millions of Iraqis have been displaced; as many as 43% of Iraqis live on under a dollar a day. Iranians might prefer a less theocratic administration, but they don't want Iran to become like Iraq. However, many Iranians do expect an unprovoked and destructive attack from the U.S.

Other factors contribute to the developing world's displeasure with the West. Cultural differences are relevant; fundamentalists in ideological opposition to Western culture will probably continue to be hostile toward Americans and Europeans regardless of Western policy. However, these ideologs only constitute small fractions of the populations in which they reside. Most of the world's impoverished populations are opportunistically allegiant and enticeable; it is these destitute masses to which the West (particularly the U.S.) should appeal. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. should take additional precautions to avoid unnecessarily killing innocent civilians. Throughout the developing world, more should be done to encourage political opposition. This is especially necessary in dictatorial nations, like Egypt and Pakistan. America's support for authoritarian regimes in these predominantly Islamic countries alienates Muslims and democrats alike. Western administrators must differentiate between antagonistic nations and their inhabitants; these populations are potentially our most valuable allies.

Jonas Gamso

Sources:

'Report Finds Dire Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq' The New York Times, 7/30/2007

'Address to Joint Session of Congress and the American People'The White House, 9/20/2001

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