Foreign & Military PolicyForeign & Military PolicyBy: Anna Forster, Allison Henry, Cindy Li, Layla Tavangar, Zili Xu

Kinds of Foreign PoliciesKinds of Foreign Policies

Majoritarian – confer benefits & impose costs (go to war, alliances, etc.)◦President = dominant figure, reflects public

opinionForeign policy reflects interest groups

◦Congress plays larger roleClient politics – aid to US corporations

abroad

Constitution/Legal ContextConstitution/Legal Context

President = commander in chief, appoints ambassadors, negotiates treaties

Congress must authorize money, confirm appointments, ratifies treaties, declares war

The public think the President is very powerful (only 5/13 wars approved by Cong)

War Powers ActWar Powers Act

Check on the presidentOnly 60 day commitment of troops

without Cong’s declaration of warAll commitments reported to Cong within

48 hoursWPA has little influence:

◦ Since its passing in 1973 every president has sent forces abroad w/o cong approval

◦ Legislative veto to send troops home struck down in Chadha case

Decision Making/Public OpinionDecision Making/Public Opinion

Power widespread, rivalries between branches

Secretary of State job too big for one person National Security Staff created

Public opinion = major factor◦Americans support escalation rather than

withdrawing during a conflict◦Support president during times of crisis◦Mass opinion = generally poorly informed,

supportive of president, conservative◦Elite opinion = better informed, opinions change

faster, liberal & internationalist

Four World Views of Foreign Four World Views of Foreign PolicyPolicy

1). Isolationism - opposition to getting involved in European wars (after WWI)

2). Containment - iron curtain, defensive alliances welcome allies or prevent military conquest (after WWII)

3). Disengagement – “new isolationism” (after Vietnam)

4). Human Rights – genocides in Rwanda, China, etc.

Military ForceMilitary Force

Forms of foreign policy:◦discussions, treaties, organizations◦troops, ships, aircraft, foreign aid◦weapons of mass destruction

Majoritarian view - military exists to defend the country or help other nations defend (all benefit)

vs. military is too powerful view (benefits big corps)

Defense BudgetDefense Budget

US does not maintain large military during peacetime

Changes in spending reflect public opinionSpending:

◦People (soldiers, etc.) = most expensive, # volunteers increased with pay raises

◦Hardware (aircrafts, etc.)◦“Readiness” (training, supplies, food)

Cost overruns because:◦Hard to estimate◦Underestimate when want Congress to approve◦Small ticket items may seem inexpensive but must

be fit for military

Structure of Decision MakingStructure of Decision Making

4 branches of services cannot be mergedPresident = commander in chief Dept

of Defense Specialized CommandsDepartment of Defense

◦Secretary of Defense◦Secretaries of Army, Navy, Air force, Marines◦Joint Chiefs of Staff – heads of each service,

chairman, vice chairman, appointed officials

Don’t Ask, Don’t TellDon’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Interest Group Politics – benefits on some small, identifiable group and impose costs on another group◦For Repeal:

Human Rights Campaign – lesbian/gay equality◦Against Repeal:

Center for Military Readiness – homosexuality is incompatible with military service

http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/DoDDischarges1.pdf

DADT signingDADT signing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTTaM-2ID20&feature=channel