Gaza War revives ‘ugly American’ stereotype in the Arab world
America’s unwavering military support for Israel’s invasion of Gaza is fueling increased anti-American sentiment on the Arab street. Comparisons are frequently drawn to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, reigniting the infamous ugly American stereotype.
The term ugly American originates from the 1968 novel by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer, depicting America’s unsuccessful attempts to counter communism in Southeast Asia by imposing its own political model. Since then, it has been widely used to describe an American abroad who is deemed obnoxious, arrogant, or pretentious.
The Biden administration’s endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government has once again personified the ugly American to Arabs. Many Arabs believe that Netanyahu has been persistently implanting the perception that Arabs, and Muslims in general, are a rising enemy — taking the place of the Soviet Union after its collapse in 1991.
Following the demise of the Soviet Union, American intervention in the Middle East significantly increased, perpetuating the negative stereotypes that contribute to anti-Americanism.
Understanding America’s perception in the Arab world necessitates a reckoning with past U.S. involvement in the region. Over the past two decades, during which I’ve been living in Egypt since returning from over a decade of work and study in the U.S. in 2004, I have witnessed a growing anti-American sentiment.
Washington’s unwavering support for Israeli aggression against Palestinians has led many Arabs to view the United States as the main promoter and supporter of those responsible for heinous human rights violations worldwide.
Biden’s assertively pro-Israeli policy in the Middle East is tarnishing America’s image in the Arab consciousness. If George W. Bush revived the ugly American stereotype among Arabs, Biden, alongside his predecessor Donald Trump, has made it even uglier.
During his visit to Israel in October, Biden publicly declared himself a Zionist and stated that if there were not an Israel, we’d have to invent one. By embracing Zionism, Biden epitomizes the essence of the ugly American.
Within this context, the Arab media depicts Biden’s America as a right-wing, capitalist empire striving for dominance over other nations. With the Biden administration consistently vetoing United Nations Security Council resolutions related to Israel, Egyptian youths often mockingly refer to the UN as the United Nations of America.
Gone are the days when Egyptians praised the American way of life, which captivated me and prompted my move to live and work in four U.S. states for 13 years in the late 1980s.
Unfortunately, if you engage Egyptians in conversations today about their views on America, the overwhelming response will be negative. This sentiment is likely to persist until positive initiatives are undertaken to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mention Biden, Trump, or Bush to any Arab, and you are likely to hear them denounced as ugly Americans. Regrettably, Biden has given new momentum to the ugly American stereotype.
Many Arab intellectuals advocate for Arab states to shift their attention eastward, advocating for a multipolar world where America no longer dominates. China and Russia’s ascendancy as superpowers has prompted the U.S. to diligently ensure that the Middle East remains outside the Asian sphere of influence, further enhancing Israel’s military and economic capabilities.
In essence, American foreign policy in the Middle East under the Biden administration exhibits the same flaws as past U.S. policies in Southeast Asia. The anger I am witnessing towards America today surpasses that during George W. Bush’s tenure, following the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Arabs today approach any American interference in their internal affairs with caution and suspicion.
Rather than despairing at this criticism, America’s Middle East policymakers should be motivated to resolve conflicts in the region and work towards establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
Only then will the perception of the ugly American begin to fade from the fabric of Arab culture.
Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of our news organization.
