Consider: What is the biggest foreign policy challenge facing our country? The Last Word: Unit 6 MC Test Friday

Consider: What is the biggest foreign policy challenge facing our country? The Last Word: Unit 6 MC Test Monday

18 Foreign and Defense Policy

An international system after WWII  U.N. Security Council America’s role: “leader of the free world” Five permanent members; relevance today?  The Bretton Woods system Devised international financial system to try and ensure peace and stabilize world economies International Monetary Fund (IMF) Stabilize international currency transactions World Bank Created to provide loans for large development projects within nations General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Designed to help facilitate international trade negotiations and promote free trade 18.2

The Cold War and Containment  Cold War Defining feature of the international system from the end of World War II to collapse of communism in late 1980s and early 1990s  Containment Opposition to Soviet expansion  Deterrence Stockpile of nuclear weapons “Mutually assured destruction ” (MAD)  North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Collective security pact amongst US and W. European nations Response: E. Europe and Russia – Warsaw pact 18.2

The Post-Cold War World  Persian Gulf War Operation Desert Storm  Clinton foreign policy Democratic enlargement: actively promoting expansion of democracy and free markets Human rights: Somalia and Kosovo Regional trade agreements – NAFTA World’s largest free trade area (US, Canada, Mexico)  World Trade Organization Replaced GATT 18.2

September 11, 2001 and the War on Terrorism  President George W. Bush Backed away from Clinton’s policy of intervening in humanitarian crises – “we should not be ‘nation-building’”  September 11 and the War in Afghanistan For obvious reasons, this event initiates a change in thinking perhaps rivalling that of the pre- vs. Post- WW situation.  Global War on terrorism U.S. demanded that Taliban-led government in Afghanistan expel al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden US deems Iran, Iraq and North Korea as part of “axis of evil” 18.2

Foreign and Defense Policy  The Constitution – an “invitation to struggle” Foreign policy powers granted to the national government, not the states Foreign policy powers divided between the president and Congress President is commander in chief Congress funds military and declares war President appoints ambassadors, subject to Senate approval 18.3

Foreign and Defense Policy - Executive Branch  The President Preeminent in foreign and defense policy Relies on National Security Council  The Departments of State, Defense and Homeland Security State: formulates foreign policy Defense: formulates military policy Homeland: straddles both policies; focus on domestic security  The intelligence community Agencies involved in the collection and analysis of information NSA, FBI, etc., not supposed to be CIA (overseas) DNI is head after 9/

Foreign and Defense Policy - Congress  Oversight Hearings to monitor agency actions - Benghazi “Fact-finding” missions abroad  Treaties and Executive Agreements Treaties require Senate approval, executive agreements do not  Appointments – Senate approval  Ambassadors, SoS, other key positions  Appropriations Can cut funding for military action  The War Powers Resolution 48/

US vs. the World Defense expenditures

FIGURE 18.1: How Has Defense Spending Changed Over Time? 18.3

Foreign and Defense Policy - The Judiciary  Limited Role Tends to dismiss disputes over foreign policy as political in nature Tends to be deferential to president in times of war or threats to security  Civil War Allowed Lincoln to deploy troops without Congressional declaration  World War II Upheld Japanese internment  Guantanamo Bay Mixed rulings 18.3

Foreign and Defense Policy - Interest Groups  Business Groups Defense industries – “MIC”  Ethnic Interest groups American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Cuban- American National Foundation  Foreign Governments and companies Acquiring foreign aid, preventing hostile bills  Ideological-public interest groups Think tanks, nongovernmental organizations Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation Amnesty International, Greenpeace 18.3

Recent Events in US foreign policy The Iranian Nuclear Deal of 2015