Major Aspects of US Foreign Policy

by

Sigrid Brevik Wangsness

27 September 2012

Outline

Introduction: Who Decides US foreign Policy?

Major Trends / Events in US Foreign Policy

The War on Terror

Responses to Current US Foreign Policy

The Obama Administration’s Foreign Policy

Who Decides US Foreign Policy?

The President has several powers that make him the single most important figure in US foreign policy today, yet these powers are limited by Congress and other important institutions and lobby groups.

OVERVIEWMajor Trends in US foreign Policy

1. Expansionism 18th century and earlier. 19th century

2. Isolationism The leading principle until WW II

3. Interventionism/ Internationalism Esp. after WW II, but also earlier

4. Unilateralism The USA acting on its own

5. Moralism vs. realism

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

Expansionism and isolationism

1776:Independence. Neutrality in foreign affairs

The first century after Independence:

- Acquired the whole continent; expansion into Mexico in the 1840s. “Manifest Destiny”

- Avoidance of war with European powers; “no entangling alliances”.

1823: The Monroe Doctrine

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

Interventionism vs. isolationism

- 1890s-1917: Intervention in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and several Latin American countries

- Involved in WWI in 1917

- Return to isolationism in the inter- war years:

The Senate rejected the League of Nations

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

Interventionism and internationalism

- Involved in WWII when attacked

Since WWII no more isolationism

- From 1945 to 1990: Cold War fight communism all over the world

1947: The Truman Doctrine.

The Marshall Plan

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

Moralism and realism

Origin of the USA: a refuge for all people

a model of democracy

a sense of moral superiority

a unique mission1917: “Make the world safe for democracy”

1947: Humanitarian concerns/ economic revival

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

1950s/60s: The Age of Containment

Stop communist expansion (”red scare”)

1970s/80s (post-Vietnam period ): Détente

Less tension/improved relations

1972: China recognized (Nixon)

Better relations with the Soviet Union: The SALT Treaty.

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

The Reagan era: US-USSR relations

From “evil empire” to the INF Treaty. START. Gorbachev. Super power negotiations over nuclear weapons.

US unilateral actions: Grenada, Nicaragua, Libya: The “world policeman” helping peoples threatened by anti- American regimes…

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

End of the Cold War: 1990s

1989 The Fall of the Wall

1991:The Gulf War. Backed by the U.N. The US and the USSR on the same side.

George Bush Sr.

- Disintegration of the Soviet Union

- The USA as the only superpower

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

The Balkans:

1995: Diplomacy (Clinton) and NATO bombing

to get a peace agreement in Bosnia.

1999: The Kosovo War. NATO.

Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary joined NATO despite Soviet opposition.

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

Clinton's world diplomacy in the Middle East, China, Africa, Russia, Northern Ireland.

Until Sept. 2001:

The new Bush Administration's foreign policy: Review its international commitments = refusal to sign many international treaties.

Signs of a new isolationism

Major Trends and Events in US Foreign Policy

11 Sep. 2001:Terrorist attacks on N.Y.& Wash. D.C.

The USA’s global war on terrorism

Support by the UN and NATO

2001: Bombing of Afghanistan to take Bin Laden

2003: Invasion of Iraq – a national security issue?

No UN resolution. Antagonized many old allies, but support from the UK, Spain, Portugal. Massive public protests.

The War on Terror

11 September 2001:

To what extent did 9/11 change US foreign policy?

Why such an enormous impact?

Like the Cold War, the Iraq War was seen as a battle between democracy and tyranny,

good and evil

Short-term impact (immediate reactions)

The War on Terror

The Bush Doctrine:

1. Unilateralism

2. Pre-emptive warfare

3. Preventative action/ measures

4. Regime Change

The War on Terror

The War against the Taliban

Why considered necessary?

The War against Iraq (2003)

The “coalition of the willing”

Why so controversial?

Response to the War on TerrorA. Reactions from Abroad

From sympathy to strong anti-Americanism: Why?

Arrogance of power

Invasion of an independent nation: lack of progress in the war

Deaths and destruction

Response to the War on TerrorA. Reactions from Abroad

Credibility gap

1. Historical inconsistencies

2. Lack of trust: no WMD

3. Assumed moral superiority vs. torture, breaking human rights (Guantanamo)

Response to the War on TerrorB. Reactions from the American Public

George Bush’s loss of popularity: polarization The costs of the Iraq war: both in human and

material terms The public misled? The Patriot Act: abuse of power by the

government? Security vs. liberty

To what extent has the war on terror been a success?

The Obama Administration’s Foreign Policy

Obama’s achievements in foreign policy?

Obama’s failures in foreign policy?

What does Hillary Clinton highlight as successes?

How does she describe Obama as “foreign policy president”?

Prospects for the Obama Administration?