Neoconservatism is defined by unipolarism and military preponderance

Evidence

The neocons’ vision of imperialism is premised on the notion of American exceptionalism: “a pervasive faith in the uniqueness, immutability, and superiority of the country’s founding liberal principles, accompanied by a conviction that the United States has a special destiny among nations.” This vision of the United States as a unique “beacon for other nations” because of its liberal values is taken for granted within the policy establishment as a whole. However, what is different about the neocons is their singular commitment to unipolarism and militarism. As Danny Cooper writes, the neocons “have been nothing if not consistent in their belief that only overwhelming American military preponderance can prevent the outbreak of great power war … [and] that multipolar international orders lead to great power war.” In short, what defines the neoconservatives is the notion of a unipolar world dominated by the United States, which they believe is in the interests of all; “American military preponderance is good for America, and good for the world.” — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 379

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘unipolar’ thesis links to both Mearsheimer’s offensive realism and the PNAC doctrine, situating Kumar’s analysis in the IR theory canon. — connects to: Bush sold the Iraq War through neoconservative democracy-promotion rhetoric — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 289; Neoconservatives had deliberately awaited a catastrophic event to realize their imperial vision — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 375; The Bush Doctrine legitimized unilateral preventive war and rival suppression — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 417 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• The Bush Doctrine legitimized unilateral preventive war and rival suppression #expands (0.75) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 417
• Neocons and liberal interventionists differ only in tactics, not imperial aims #expands (0.60) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 404