1. Chapter 20: Foreign and Military Policy

2. Kinds of foreign policy Majoritarian – perceived to benefit many – perceived to burden many – Example: military – dominant figure: president

3. Kinds of foreign policy Client – perceived to benefit few – perceived to burden many – Example: companies with contracts to support foreign nations agriculture industrial military – dominant figure: Congress

4. The Constitutional and Legal Context foreign policy conflict – president commander in chief of armed forces can “make” war negotiate treaties

5. The Constitutional and Legal Context foreign policy conflict – Congress funds military action can “declare” war ratifies treaties

6. The Constitutional and Legal Context foreign policy conflict – “Box Score” of foreign policy President – wins more often in foreign affairs than in domestic affairs – not as powerful as other democratic heads of government – foreign policy power is double-edged sword » president strong enough to act in “good” cases » is strong enough to act in “bad” cases

7. The Constitutional and Legal Context foreign policy conflict – Box Score” of foreign policy Congress – has the power to restrict funding of foreign policy – has gone to court over presidential actions Courts – have mostly sided with the president – allowed internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII – did not allow nationalization of steel industry during Korean War States – almost NO power in foreign policy

8. The Constitutional and Legal Context – Checks on Presidential Power more political than Constitutional greatest Constitutional check on presidential power is Congress’s power of the purse War Powers Act – president must report to Congress » in writing » within 48 hours of committing troops

9. The Constitutional and Legal Context – Checks on Presidential Power War Powers Act – Congress must assent » within 60 days » by declaration of war or similar legal proclamation – president must withdraw if Congress does not agree

10. The Constitutional and Legal Context – Checks on Presidential Power War Powers Act – if both chambers of Congress pass a resolution of withdrawal » president must withdraw troops » president may not veto (found unconstitutional) – has not been used effectively to curb presidential power

11. The Constitutional and Legal Context – Checks on Presidential Power Intelligence Oversight – CIA must inform Congressional Intelligence Committees on covert actions – Committees cannot disapprove the actions – they can pass legislation to block it for specific time period

12. The Machinery of Foreign Policy Old School = almost all by secretary of state America becomes a world power – president takes a more active roll – agencies (re)formed to deal with details some new some old

13. The Machinery of Foreign Policy America becomes a world power – National Security Council helps president to coordinate all that activity – give account of views of different agencies » causes conflict – help president choose from various options » loser may go to Congress for help – oversee implementation of presidential program

14. The Machinery of Foreign Policy America becomes a world power National Security Council members – chaired by president – must include » vice president » secretary of state » secretary of defense – may include » director of CIA » chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff » attorney general

15. The Machinery of Foreign Policy Broad outline of foreign policy – public opinion – elite opinion Watershed event = World War II – first highly “popular” war (good vs. evil) – seemed successful (evil was defeated) – USA emerged as a superpower nation – shift from isolationist to internationalist feelings

16. The Machinery of Foreign Policy Backing the President – “Rallying around the flag” – public usually gives support to US when it confronts foreign nations in a crisis situation – presidential popularity often RISES even if the situation turns out badly – sometimes though, not as much in certain places – occurs most often when America is attacked or threatened

17. The Machinery of Foreign Policy Backing the President – “Rallying around the flag” – Leeriness of going to war disappears once the conflict starts support grows desire to win at (nearly) all costs – Effects of war dead rising death numbers make public want an escalation put a quick end (and victory) to the conflict

18. The Machinery of Foreign Policy Backing the President – “Rallying around the flag” – Groups with highest levels of anti-war sentiments Democrats African-Americans post-graduate degree holders

19. Mass Public Opinion vs. Elite Opinion – Most of the public is ill-informed about foreign affairs – Political elites are better informed but opinions of elites can change more quickly – Mass opinion tends to stay supportive of the war/soldiers

20. Mass Public Opinion vs. Elite Opinion – General trends elites – more liberal and internationalist view – favor giving economic aid – favor defending allies mass opinion – less internationalist – want to keep economic aid in America – protectionist economic policies

21. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites Elite Opinion – more importance mass opinion agrees with actions without directing action deeply divided includes – members of government – key private organizations (think tanks) – media

22. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites Worldview – an idea of critical problems facing the USA decent solutions to those problems – becomes dominant when world events seem to support the view

23. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites Worldview – evolution of modern views Isolationist – memories of WWI – opposition to getting involved in foreign conflicts

24. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites Worldview – evolution of modern views containment – post-WWII – anti-appeasement – looking to be strong and not weak in face of aggression – policy to contain aggressive expansion of non-friendly nations (USSR)

25. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites Worldview evolution of modern views disengagement – post-Vietnam » we acted correctly, just not with enough strength » we acted correctly, just not in the right place » we didn’t act correctly, universal containment is a failed policy – “new isolationism” – military actions evaluated as a potential Vietnam

26. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites Worldview evolution of modern views human rights – confront groups violating human rights – especially » European (cynical view) » acts of genocide or “ethnic cleansing”

27. The Use of Military Force USA as a great military power is still important many nations, some hostile, have nukes Majoritarian view – many pay with taxes toward military strength – many benefit our nation our allies

28. The Use of Military Force Client politics – many pay – few benefit the military the corporations supplying the military the politicians whose districts house military facilities – Military-Industrial Complex a unified bloc – military brass – defense contractors

29. The Defense Budget total spending – most of history small percent of GNP arm for wars disarm afterward – Post WW II slight decline up again for Korea – stayed up – driven by policy of containment

30. The Defense Budget Total spending – Most Americans believe we are spending about right or too little – Debate still rages about being the World’s Policeman

31. The Defense Budget Where does the money go? – personnel volunteer army number of women has grown gays in the military – banned – don’t ask, don’t tell – ban lifted (2011)

32. The Defense Budget Where does the money go? – Big-Ticket Items Cost overruns – difficult to predict costs in the future (during construction) – incentive to understate costs to get approval in the first place – Gold Plating the projects » get the best of everything all at once

33. The Defense Budget Where does the money go? – Big-Ticket Items Cost overruns – no competition between companies once the contract is awarded – stretch out the contract over many years » gives appearance of cutting the budget » only kicks the costs down the road where inflation raises costs

34. The Defense Budget Where does the money go? – Small-Ticket Items normal goods are not the issue specially designed accessories for the big-ticket item IS the problem – Readiness low priority Congressmen fight to keep plants and bases no one fights for readiness readiness cuts show immediate results (looks good)

35. The Defense Budget Where does the money go? – Bases systematic decision making on base closing – 1988 – Commission on Base Realignment and Closure – recommendations sent to Congress » all or nothing » no changes

36. The Structure of Defense Decision- Making Civilian Control – elected president is C-I-C – Civilian posts secretary of defense – secretary of the army – secretary of the navy (also MANAGES Marine Corps) – secretary of the air force

37. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making Civilian Control – Command Structure President is C-I-C secretary of defense command authority over national defense branch secretaries enact policies of the above

38. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making Civilian Control – The four branches separate entities civilian fear of becoming too strong if united into one branches retain own – traditions – power structures

39. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making Civilian Control – The four branches leads to conflict – good effects » varied views to create over-all picture » Congress has more access points to control the military

40. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making Joint Chiefs of Staff – active heads of the four branches – presidential appointed and Senate confirmed chairman vice chairman – powers no command power key role in defense planning presidential advisory board

41. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making Joint Chiefs of Staff – hierarchy Chairman is in charge heads work for chairman (not for the branches)

42. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making The Services – each service headed by Civilian secretary – purchasing – Congressional relations – public relations Military chief – discipline – training

43. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making Chain of Command President (CIC) Secretary of Defense Joint Cheifs of Staff Army command Marine Command Navy Comman Air Force Command

44. The New Problem of Terrorism Bipolar World – USA – USSR Tripolar World? – USA – USSR – PRC Unipolar World – US is only superpower left – terrorism can still strike

45. The New Problem of Terrorism New Policy – Doctrine of Preemption – US will actively engage terrorist threats – before they can fully grow – we will act alone if needed

46. The New Problem of Terrorism New Policy – Doctrine of Preemption – Supporters will protect Americans before terrorists can attack us at home – Critics justification for unjust wars ignores United Nations

47. The New Problem of Terrorism New Policy – Doctrine of Preemption – Lessons do not leave a country too quickly rebuilding takes a long time act in a coordinated manner – civilian – military