Evangelicalism as a Political Movement under the George W. Bush Administration: The Cases of Iraq and Israel

Evangelicals, comprised over a third of the U.S. population in the early 2000s, significantly influenced politics, particularly during George W. Bush’s presidency. Bush frequently employed religious language and emphasized his Christian faith. Key tenets of Evangelical Christianity include the idea of American exceptionalism, support for Israel, and the promotion of American democracy. American evangelicals often believe that God supports the U.S. in spreading its values and combating its enemies. Socially conservative, Evangelicals predominantly vote Republican.During the Bush administration, Iraq became a focus of U.S. foreign policy. Accusations of WMD development and human rights abuses served as justifications for the 2003 invasion. While the war was highly divisive, evangelicals largely supported the intervention, viewing Saddam as a threat. Evangelicals pursued their goals in the Middle East, with missionaries providing aid during the conflict and cooperating with the local government to proselytize. However, the war ultimately led to a decline in Iraq’s Christian population.Another key area of Evangelical political activity is advocacy for Israel. Due to their theology, the group believes that protecting Israel is in the interest of Christianity as a whole and thus Evangelicals lobbied for the US government to help Israel financially and militarily.