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Standard and Short Edition:
1 American Political Culture
2 The Founding and the Constitution
3 Federalism
4 Civil Liberties
5 Civil Rights
6 Public Opinion
7 The Media
8 Political Participation and Voting
9 Political Parties
10 Campaigns and Elections
11 Groups and Interests
12 Congress
13 The Presidency
14 Bureaucracy In A Democracy
15 The Federal Courts
16 Government and Economy
17 Social Policy
18 Foreign Policy and Democracy
Texas Edition:
19 The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas
20 The Texas Constitution
21 Parties and Elections in Texas
22 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Lobbyists
23 The Texas Legislature
24 The Texas Executive Branch
25 The Texas Judiciary
26 Local Government in Texas
27 Public Policy in Texas

Chapter 18: Foreign Policy and Democracy

Chapter Review

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The Iraq war is the latest illustration of historical tensions that have existed in America’s foreign policy.  Numerous questions have stemmed from these tensions.  Should the U.S. avoid “foreign entanglements” or be engaged in world affairs?  Should we focus on promoting our own economic self-interest or spreading democracy?  Should our primary tool be diplomacy or military power?  Should we act unilaterally or multilaterally?

The Players: The Makers and Shapers of Foreign Policy

The threat of domestic terrorism shattered the concept that the United States is isolated from the problems of the world. Accordingly, American foreign policy has changed dramatically since September 11, 2001. Since September 11, 2001, President Bush has dramatically altered US foreign policy. His new approach includes pre-emptive use of military force and nation-building in Iraq.

I. What institutions make up the foreign policy establishment?

  • As in domestic policy, foreign policy making is highly pluralistic with both official and unofficial “makers” and “shapers” of foreign policy.
  • The makers of foreign policy include the president, various bureaucratic agencies and departments, and Congress.
  • Although both Congress and the President play important roles in shaping foreign policy, the “Bush Doctrine” illustrates the supremacy of the President in foreign policy making during wartime.
  • The CIA, the Defense Department and the newly created director of national intelligence are rivals engaged in power struggles for control of the intelligence community.

 

II. What groups help shape foreign policy? Among these players, which are most influential?

  • The shapers of foreign policy include interest groups and the media.
  • With the exception of the president, the influence of players and shapers varies from case to case.
  • It is difficult to determine which of the makers and shapers of foreign policy has the most influence given the highly pluralistic nature of international relations, but the power of the president is greatest in crisis situations.   

 

The Values in American Foreign Policy

I. What are the legacies of the traditional system of foreign policy?

  • President Washington’s farewell address warned of foreign entanglements and set the framework for over 100 years of foreign policy predicated on isolationism and/or unilateralism.
  • World War I and then World War II ended the go-it-alone policy of the United States, as the Cold War demanded a more significant international presence.

 

II. What new values guided U.S. foreign policy after World War II?

  • American foreign policy after World War II was founded on the desire to contain communism.
  • The formation of regional security arrangements (e.g., NATO) were seen as essential to halting the spread of communism in Europe and throughout the world.

 

The Instruments of Modern American Foreign Policy

I. What are the six primary instruments of modern American foreign policy?

  • The six primary instruments of modern American foreign policy are diplomacy, the United Nations, the international monetary structure, economic aid, collective security, and military deterrence.
  • Diplomacy is the representation of a government to other foreign governments and is achieved primarily through the State Department.
  • The United Nations was created in 1945 to use a collective security arrangement to prevent threats to international and national security.
  • The international monetary structure attempts to promote economic development through the International Monetary Fund.
  • Economic aid after World War II (e.g., the Marshall Plan) helped rebuild our allies.
  • Regional security agreements (e.g., NATO, ANZUS, and SEATO) attempt to address concerns regarding the ineffectiveness of the United Nations in dealing with conflicts over the spread of communism.
  • Military deterrence was viewed as the only effective means of controlling Soviet expansion in Europe and Asia and resulted in proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam—and set the stage for U.S. involvement in the Gulf War.
  • President George W. Bush has shifted U.S. policy away from deterrence, arguing that “preemption” is the best means of dealing with adversaries. The Bush Doctrine was used to justify attacking Iraq without direct provocation, on the basis that Iraq could post a threat to the U.S. in the near future.  Given the difficulties we face in Iraq as a result of Bush’s pre-emptive invasion, there is doubt as to whether the Bush doctrine makes the world a safer place.

 

Roles Nations Play

I. What four traditional foreign policy roles has the United States adopted throughout its history?

  • The United States has adopted various roles throughout its history: the Napoleonic, the holy alliance, the balance of power, and economic expansionist roles.
  • The Napoleonic role is based on the philosophy that a nation is not safe until all countries adopt democracy.
  • The holy alliance role attempts to maintain the status quo by preventing any revolution, including democratic revolutions.
  • The balance of power role attempts to play the major powers off against each other so that no single power or combination of powers feels strong enough to challenge the others.
  • The economic expansionist role is based on the premise that economic development is more important than political systems or ideology.

 

II. Since the end of World War II, how has the role of the United States in world affairs evolved?

  • The United States adopted a Napoleonic role during and after World War II in an attempt to make the world safe for democracy and for economic markets.
  • During the Cold War, American foreign policy makers adopted a holy alliance role to keep allies in power. 
  • After the Cold War, the US continued to seek economic stability, but has also been willing to take on a more aggressive, Napoleonic, role.
  • Some argue that President Bush’s policy has shifted towards Napoleonic Unilateralism since the September 11 attacks.
  • Bush’s decision to lessen our focus on Afghanistan and to invade Iraq preemptively raised doubts throughout the world about U.S. policy.
  • Our intervention in Iraq illustrates the limitations on using military might and the importance of diplomacy.

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