Human Rights and U.S. National Security Post 9/11

摘要

This thesis, Human Rights and U.S. National Security Post 9/11, examines the changes in U.S. human rights policy post 9/11 and the impact that these changes have had within the international community. In researching this topic I found a number of policy changes that the U.S. made during the 'war on terror' and examined how these changes have impacted the role of the United States in the international community. Overall, I found that the changes in U.S. human rights policy during the 'war on terror' have had a negative impact on U.S. alliances abroad as well as other members within the international arena. I looked at statistical evidence of the chasm between the U.S. and other countries. I examined polls, which demonstrates a shift in international opinion of the U.S. post 9/11. Furthermore, I examined specific instances of human rights abuses as well as policy decisions that indicated a shift in U.S. foreign policy away from human rights. Using specific cases that shed light on the changing nature of U.S. human rights policy, I analyze where criticisms of U.S. human rights policy were stemming from. Finally, I draw together all of the information obtained about the changing nature of U.S. human rights policy in order to make recommendations about how the U.S. can put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy in a way that will both bolster its security as well as its reputation abroad.