Defence and strategy

Eva TATEROVÁ

Since the terrorist attacks of 11th September 2001 there have been presented a series of opinions, comments and studies examining more or less deeply the roots of the hostile attitudes towards the United States of America (USA). The term “anti-Americanism” has become very fashionable however its genuine essence, historical development and meaning often remain hidden. This study aims to analyze the origins and development of the phenomenon of anti-Americanism in the region of Middle East during the Cold War. The research will be focused on the comparison of the phenomenon in two important regional states – Iran and Saudi Arabia. Concerning the history of last few decades, Saudi Arabia is usually understood as one of the key American Middle Eastern allies, together with Egypt and the State of Israel. In comparison since the Islamic revolution in 1979 Iran has been often presented as American mortal enemy. The truth is that such a simple explanation is not satisfactory. The antagonistic attitudes towards the USA can be observed in both countries. Also, the local anti-Americanism has got quite a long history based on a variety of factors. The research will be based on a statement that the parallels between Iranian and Saudi Arabian negative perceptions of USA can be found despite of their different historical backgrounds.