Foreign Policy

U.S. Foreign Policy (typical view) The strategies or goals that America uses to guide its relations with other nations usually comprising five elements (standard view): National Security Free and Open Trade (Capitalism!) Democratic Governments World Peace Concern for Humanity

U.S. Foreign Policy (interest view) A strategy or planned course of action developed by decision-makers of a state, which aims to achieve specific goals defined in terms of national interest comprising several elements. National Interest – the fundamental objective and ultimate determinant that guides the decision-makers of a state in making foreign policy. Self-preservation Independence (sovereignty) Territorial Integrity Military Security Economic Well-Being (?) Democracy, human rights, freedom

U.S. Foreign Policy Approaches Realist/Idealist Dichotomy – the alternative approaches in forming foreign policy Realist: fundamentally empirical and pragmatic Idealist: focuses more in abstract principles involving international norms, legal codes, and moral/ethical values Revisionist – a foreign policy which seeks to alter the existing international territorial, ideological, or power distribution to its advantage (expansionist and acquisitive). Status Quo – a foreign policy which seeks to maintain the above same (conservative and “defensive”)

Evaluating U.S. Foreign Policy Foreign policy actions are difficult to evaluate because: Short-term advantages or disadvantages must be weighed in relation to long-term consequences. Their impact of other nations is difficult to evaluate. Most policies result in a mixture of successes and failures that are hard to disentangle.

U.S. Foreign Policy Process Translating national interest into specific goals/objectives. Determining the national and domestic situational factors related to policy goals. Analyzing the state’s capabilities for achieving desired results. Developing a plan or strategy to link capabilities with goals. Undertaking the requisite actions. Periodically reviewing and evaluating progress toward achievement of the desired results.

U.S. Foreign Policy Process Intelligence (information gathering) Spies, corporate secrets, satellites, news, blogs Capability Analysis What is our appreciation of their capabilities Decision-Makers: those individuals who exercise the powers of making and implementing foreign policy decisions Opinion Elites General Public Cabinet Secretaries Bureaucracy “Groupthink”

Patterns of Power The influence and control exercised by one nation over other nations Unilateralism Alliances Collective Security World Government

Common Terms and Historical Context Monroe Doctrine Gunboat Diplomacy Dollar Diplomacy (Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson) Isolationism/Internationalism Good Neighbor Policy (FDR) Marshall Plan Truman Doctrine Military-Industrial (Congressional)Complex - Eisenhower

Realism vs. Idealism in Foreign Policy