Understanding Trump's Second Term: Can Huntington's Securitization Efforts Provide Guidance

Abstract

Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations?"offers a skeptical perspective on the post-Cold War world and has been widely debated on that basis. However, this study argues that Huntington's post-Cold War writings should be understood as part of his broader effort to redefine the United States' national identity, an effort that would later influence both the Bush and Trump administrations. A review of Huntington's post-Cold War literature suggests that his concern over the U.S. losing its national identity in the face of globalization and immigration-and his proposed solution, which can be summarized as "define yourself by defining your enemy"-came to dominate American political life after 9/11. This framework may also be useful for understanding Trump's political success and policy orientations. In this context, the study examines the relationship between Huntington's writings and the discourse and policy practices of the G.W. Bush and Donald Trump administrations.