The U.S. Building of International Discursive Power in Its Transitional Period as a New-Born Power

　　Li Xinfeng;Feng Feng;Zhang Ping

　　Abstract：

　　The United States developed from a colony of the Great Britain along the coast of the Atlantic to a regional power, then to a global power, and at last to an international superpower. The history of its ascension is thought-provoking. It involves not only a rapid rise of both domestic economy and comprehensive national strength, but also a continuous increase of international discursive power. Examining the transitional period of the U. S. as a new-born power, this paper establishes an analytical frame that incorporates the elements of national strength, national identity and international discursive power. By tracing the construction process of international discursive power by the new-born state in the particular period, this paper sheds light on the current development of China. In a period of 80 years from 1865 to 1945, the United States consciously and actively constructed its discursive hegemony from three aspects and in four phases. The three aspects were policy agenda, academic agenda and media agenda; the four phases were the preparation, sprouting, initiative establishment and institutionalization of a strong international discursive power. Throughout this historical process, national strength closely accompanied international discursive power. However, national strength did not necessarily result in the increase of international discursive power; on the contrary, international discursive power was established consciously on the basis of its national strength.

　　Keyword：

　　transitional period of a new-born power; international discourse power; policy agenda; academic agenda; media agenda