University of Virginia Library

Polarization Marks Diplomacy

Much of the active
American involvement in
power politics has occurred in
periods of polarization in
which conflict tends to be total
in ends or means or both. In
such periods, subtle and even
not so subtle differences
among the diverse state actors
are submerged by the
overriding distinction between
friend and foe. Disagreement is
fundamental and the struggle
takes on the character of a
crusade, whether protracted
or concentrated in time.

A battle to "make the world
safe for democracy" or to
extirpate Nazi tyranny or to
contain communism until it
crumbles from within – all
such engagements see politics
in terms of polar opposites,
whether it be friend and foe or
peace and war. Conflict is
viewed as arising from the
perverse outlaw or
international gangster whose
isolation and removal will
allow the underlying consensus
among peoples to emerge.
Peace in such a view is normal
whilst war is willed.