FOREIGN POLICY TOOLS & GOALS

Foreign Policy- Definition  This is how the United States interacts with other nations.

Tool #1: Diplomacy:  The U.S. accomplishes its foreign policy goals by talking to, punishing, and fighting other countries.  An alliance is a partnership with another country.  Talking to other countries as a way to solve problems is called diplomacy. Example: whales are becoming extinct due to overfishing, so the U.S. & Canada agree to set limits on whale fishermen.  The Secretary of State, John Kerry, is the highest ranking diplomat (behind the President)

Tool #2: Economic Sanctions:  Sometimes we punish countries that behave badly by trying to damage their economy.  The U.S. government will prohibit American businesses from doing business with another country, and companies from the other country can’t sell here. This is called an economic sanction.  This hurts because the U.S. economy is the biggest.

Tool #3: Military Engagement  Usually military action is the last resort.  Example: after diplomacy and sanctions failed to get Iraq to stop building nuclear weapons, the U.S. invaded.

Goals Of Foreign Policy, 1:  1. Protect the “human rights” of people in other countries. We try to make sure people elsewhere have free speech, due process, equality, etc.  2. Provide humanitarian aid, such as giving food to poor countries or help after a natural disaster.

Goals of Foreign Policy, 2:  3. Promote democracy. We try to get countries with authoritarian governments to become democracies. We think people (voters) should be in charge.  4. Grow the U.S. and other economies. By making ours and other countries richer, we reduce human suffering like disease and starvation. Example: we encourage countries to avoid command economies.

Goals of Foreign Policy, 3:  5. Protect national security. Attacking countries that are threatening and preventing terrorism.  6. Protect the environment, especially the air and oceans. This prevents illness and saves resources.