| David Domke, God Willing? Political Fundamentalism | | | | news coverage, and argues that they allowed the |
| in the White House, the 'War on Terror', and the | | | | administration simultaneously to push for |
| Echoing Press. London and Ann Arbor, Ml: Pluto | | | | immediate action on specific "war on terrorism" |
| Press, 2004. 240 pp. | | | | policies and to justify this desire as a requisite |
| The relationship between politics and media has | | | | step in a long-term, God- ordained process. The |
| always been a topic for vast researches. On the | | | | implication was clear: to not act quickly or to not |
| other hand the use of religious discourse in | | | | endure in the campaign against terrorism was to |
| addresses and speeches of politicians to back | | | | risk another September 11. |
| their policies is not a new issue. But what is done | | | | In chapter 4 evidence is offered of how the |
| in this book that makes is outstanding and | | | | universal gospel of freedom and liberty, offered |
| different is an analysis of the interconnections | | | | by the president and echoed by the press, |
| among all these three together. Thus David | | | | functioned as a central rationale for the |
| Domke's book is ideally positioned to cut right into | | | | administration's foreign policies, particularly in |
| the heart of debates about the modern | | | | justifying the new preemptive doctrine and the |
| developments at the intersection of religion, | | | | Iraq war. |
| politics and media within the US. According to him, | | | | Chapter 5 focuses on how the administration's |
| the foreign and domestic foreign developments in | | | | emphasis upon political unity and harsh rebukes of |
| the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of | | | | those dissented worked together to encourage |
| September 11, 2001 were not only (neo) | | | | support for the administration, and to suggest |
| conservative, but also firmly grounded in a | | | | that anyone who held opposing views was |
| (Christian) religious fundamentalism. Domke argues | | | | unpatriotic and potentially placing people in the |
| that the Bush administration has turned a religious | | | | United States at risk. |
| worldview into political policy and has created | | | | Chapter 6 reflects upon the collection of evidence, |
| what Domke calls a 'political fundamentalism', | | | | in three central sections. First, it argues that the |
| defined as 'an intertwining of conservative religious | | | | Bush administration offers an instructive case |
| faith, politics, and strategic communication' (p. 6). | | | | study of how political fundamentalism can gain |
| The book is also a critique of the Bush | | | | wide support in the United States. The chapter's |
| administration's disregard for democracy in the | | | | second section scrutinizes the role of news media |
| months following the attack. | | | | in these processes, with the argument that in a |
| The introductory chapter of God Willing? identifies | | | | nation-challenging context, commercial mass media |
| four main characteristics of the Bush | | | | are drawn to the discourses of political |
| administration's communication that were | | | | conservatives, particularly those that are |
| grounded in a conservative religious worldview: (1) | | | | religiously grounded. The final section of the |
| a binary concept of reality (apparent in the | | | | chapter explores how cultural leaders might craft |
| consistent use of two constructions: good vs. evil | | | | a moral discourse that counters the predominance |
| and security vs. peril); (2) an obsession with time | | | | of political fundamentalism, and why it is crucial for |
| and demands for immediate action against | | | | U.S. citizens and others that they do so. |
| terrorism(manifest in two beliefs: that action in the | | | | Chapter 7 offers conclusions, focusing on |
| here and now is imperative, and that one's | | | | implications of the administration's political |
| commitment to a certain course of action, if | | | | fundamentalism for democracy, both in the United |
| perceived to be God inspired, should be of an | | | | States and globally. |
| enduring nature); (3) declarations about the will of | | | | In the way the writer brings a rigorous analysis of |
| god for the united states and the values of | | | | a wide range of empirical material, David Domke's |
| freedom and liberty; and finally (4) an intolerance | | | | work is of great value to study. However, to |
| for dissent(apparent in the administration's unified | | | | what extent his work can contribute to a better |
| voice in public communication, its appeals for other | | | | understanding of the relationship between religion, |
| political actors to act with political unity and its | | | | politics, and the media is a matter of question. |
| harsh criticisms of dissenters). In each of the | | | | Some scholars may find it the role of religion has |
| chapters that follow, one of these characteristics | | | | been exaggerated. Some scholars may question |
| is defined and discussed in detail, with evidence | | | | the way he has analyzed meaning formation and |
| offering its consistent presence in the public | | | | reception in media as it is a subjective matter. |
| communications of the president between 11 | | | | Nevertheless, the book very well clarifies how the |
| September 2001 and 1 may 2003. | | | | actions of the Bush administration and the news |
| In chapter 2 he examines the presence of two | | | | media are directly counter to fundamental |
| binaries in the president's discourse and news | | | | American democratic ideals and principles. It |
| coverage after September 11- good versus evil | | | | shows how civil religion is used to promote its |
| and security versus peril- and argues that these | | | | political goals and to justify self-interest. So "God |
| conceptions of reality reflected and contributed to | | | | Willing" is a must-read for anyone who cherishes |
| a sense of moral certitude among the bush | | | | American democracy, anyone who feels uneasy |
| administration that was used to justify limits on | | | | about the Bush Administration's use of religious |
| civil liberties and major preemptive military action | | | | images, as well as those who have concerns |
| while also helping to engender public support for | | | | about the way the press helps Bush advance his |
| the president and administration's "war on terror". | | | | agenda. However, the potential and necessity for |
| Chapter 3 offers evidence of time fixations | | | | further discussion on the subject exists that can |
| throughout the administration's discourse and | | | | encourage other scholars. |