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"Messianic Imperialism" - Definition

The day after the US and the UK attacked Iraq L'Express editorialist Denis Jeambar assessed what just had happened. For him, an Atlanticist, Bush's "heartbreaking messianic imperialism" is very disturbing, le "navrant impérialisme messianique" de Bush "est inquiétant". Jeambar and L'Express are nevertheless strong advocates of close relations to the USA. 

The term "messianic imperialism" was first mentioned by Claudia Möller (she also used "imperialismo idealista") and Geoffrey Parker in relation to Carlos V and his son Felipe II, who ruled Spain in the 16^th century. Parker provides us with a definition: "Messianic imperialism: the efforts of leaders to link their own causes to God's purposes and their belief that God would perform miracles to help achieve their goals".

Similar but less apodictic Ronnie D. Lipschutz, UC-Santa Cruz: 
"Imposing our standards on others amounts to a form of messianic imperialism from which can come no good". 

François Fontan in "Ethnism" applies it to the drive of Social Democrats of the Second International towards modernizing the whole world. He believes it is implicit in Marxism. Webster G. Tarpley goes in the same direction by accusing the Kremlin under the Soviets of pursuing the the establishment of a Third Rome. John Garrard, Professor of the University of Arizona, combines Red and Brown and sees them being allied in the same goal after the downfall of the Communists.

Wolf Lepenies sees it differently: "Der messianische Imperialismus der Amerikaner hat sein europäisches Vorbild nicht nur in Frankreich, sondern auch in England". (The American messianic imperialism has the example of France and England.) His view is broader. Obviously he connects the term to the classic feature of the old colonialist powers to hegemonize and to rule the world. (SZ/Feuilleton, 30.10.2002).

For French pundit Alain Duhamel George W. Bush is on "une mission messianique" (a messianic mission) and he continues: "George W. Bush est un croisé, un intégriste religieux qui a la certitude que Dieu est avec lui et lui tend une épée". (George W. Bush is a crusader, a religious fundamentalist, who is certain that God is with him providing him a sword.)