Over the last several decades the United States of America has had the seat of leadership on the world stage. During this time different US Administrations have viewed the world through changing times and circumstances, and through the lens of several different theories of international relations. The current Administration’s foreign policy positions, articulated by the President himself during his recent West Point commencement address as well as the Administration’s self-described “pivot,” or “rebalance” to a larger focus on Asia, show a dominant reliance on the Liberalism theory of International Relations. This paper will analyze the current Administration’s Liberalism theory by looking at arguments put forth by the President during his speeches, explain the Administration’s assertions on the importance of international institutions, and describe how the “pivot” to Asia is good for the country. Finally, this paper will make some recommendations for changes to the current Administration’s foreign policy, based upon actions and theories that previous Administrations have used effectively. In his West Point Commencement Address the President asserted two points. The first is that “technology and globalization has put power once reserved for states in the hands of individuals raising the capacity of terrorists to do harm.” Additionally, he argued that “the most direct threat to America at home and abroad remains terrorism.” These are both key concepts of the
Throughout the course of history, the United States has remained consistent with its national interest by taking many different actions in foreign policy. There have been both immediate and long term results of these actions. Foreign policy is the United States policy that defines how we deal with other countries economically and politically. It is made by congress, the president, and the people. Some of the motivations for United States foreign policy are national security, economics, and idealism. The United States entry into World War I in 1917 and the escalation of the Vietnam War in 1964 and the both had great impact on the United States.
The doctrine of United States foreign policy has changed significantly during and after the Cold War, as the United States redefined its foreign policies during each of these eras. Although inarguably United States promotes liberal democracy, how it goes about doing so currently, could not be necessarily categorized as a liberal approach. During the Cold War United States had a more liberal approach towards promotion of democracy. Yet this approach has since changed as it did not emphasize enough the importance of other states materialistic needs and its impact on their international behavior, thus leading United States to adopt a more constructivist perspective toward its foreign policy.
As Kelly Anderson’s Foreign Policy Analyst, the following memo will address three areas of the United States’ foreign policy. The U.S. has gone through may transition when it comes to its foreign policy. The United States has been an isolationist, neutralist, and internationalist country from the year it was founded to now. The executive branch and the president apply their power to influence and change the nation’s foreign policy. There are specific departments within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) created to assist the president in his or her process. Political context and historical events have occurred to prove why intervening with another country’s issues does not benefit the national interest and why isolationism is a better system for this country. Hopefully, the memo will accomplish informing what the foreign policy is, was, and should be.
The United States foreign policy is an interaction between the United States and foreign nations. Foreign policy sets standards on how different organizations, corporations, and individual citizens should interact with one another. Some Americans believe the United States should remain withdrawn from the affairs of foreign countries, but other Americans believe the United States should involve itself in the affairs of foreign countries. In 1796, George Washington included these words in his farewell address, “steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” These words from George Washington shaped the foreign policy of the United States for over a century.
While realists, liberals and neo-conservatives disagree about what America should do with its unrivalled power, they share the belief that America’s dominance of the post-Cold War system puts it in a category of its own (Walsh, 2015). Unipolarity captures the character of the international order that has been sustained by the economic and military power of the United States and shaped by its liberal mission to extend the reach of capitalism and democracy. The unipolar configuration of power provides a crucial context within which US foreign policy behavior must be understood. If the primacy of American power and the hierarchical nature of the current international order are undisputed, the characterization of such an order has been the subject of intense debate.
Recently, President Bush gave his State of the Union Address to Congress. Throughout his speech, he makes a solid case for the further unification of America throughout these harsh times. He makes a very strong argument for the retaliation of the actions committed against America. However, when he speaks of bringing the terrorists to justice, his argument falters. He has made a hasty judgement with little proof when he first began his argument.
During the annual graduation ceremony of the West Point Military Academy, President Obama delivered a speech highlighting the current and future plans of America’s army. The speech was delivered during a period where U.S. troops were being recalled from Iraq and Afghanistan. For over a decade, America’s military involvement in these countries has led to a series of unanswered questions that the world demanded. This essay focuses on three International Relations theories, which are Realism, Liberalism and Marxism. President Obama’s speech will be analysed from each of these perspectives. Moreover, a stance would be asserted on the predominant notion.
Did American Foreign Policy during the 70’s and 80’s create the terrorism we fight today?
To begin America’s foreign policy has changed quite a lot. The first policy we had was the Monroe Doctrine which was established in 1823. The policy provided precedent and support for U.S. expansion on the American continent. This meant Europe could not interfere in Western Hemisphere affairs and could not be involved in the expansion. Soon after that we were changing our policies again which lead us to Wilson’s 14 points. Basically after we had entered WW1 we wanted to establish peace so we drew up specific recommendations for a comprehensive peace settlement. As you can see already we are becoming more involved and our policies are allowing us to become a whole and make peace. Then once again we were getting involved and our policies had to changed again we created the United Nations in 1945. It consisted of the following
Less spectacular, however, are current measures against the growing pressure of terrorism. Former President George W. Bush’s doctrine employed a very aggressive, muscular approach towards preventing terrorist attacks by targeting countries that may harbor terrorist organizations along with the individual terrorists. By choosing to increase military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama
Why is US foreign policy pulled to extreme of either doing too much or nothing at all?
The 9/11 attacks in Washington, Pennsylvania and New York brought to attention the threat of international terrorism and the devastation that it could cause for the major powers. These attacks provided the motivation that the Bush administration needed to authorise the invasion of Iraq. With the attacks brought the realisation that non-state groups had the capacity and willingness to strike against the USA and that the US no longer had a monopoly over war therefore validating the use of force against terrorist organizations (Amin, 2006). In light of 9/11 and other attacks aimed at the USA, the US embarked on a highly militarised anti-terrorist campaign (Bassil, 2012). In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush confirmed
As we approach the next Presidential election the topic of American foreign policy is once again in the spotlight. In this paper, I will examine four major objectives of U.S. foreign policy that have persisted throughout the twentieth century and will discuss the effect of each on our nation’s recent history, with particular focus on key leaders who espoused each objective at various times. In addition, I will relate the effects of American foreign policy objectives, with special attention to their impact on the American middle class. Most importantly, this paper will discuss America’s involvement in WWI, WWII, and the Cold War to the anticipated fulfillment of these objectives—democracy,
The top two possible presidential major political party candidates for 2016 are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, with Clinton at 42% and Trump at 40.9% (as of September 15,2016). Donald Trump, who is a successful businessman, turns to a different path to become a p A government’s strategy in dealing with other nations is important in today’s world. The U.S. foreign policy is designed to achieve national objectives. There are many immigrated citizens coming into the United States every year. However, we question the ones who are undocumented immigrants. The United States has concerns about the Islamic State group who grows every day. Greenhouse gases or carbon is destroying the society by producing carbon, which traps heat into our earth. Climate change and energy is a big factor in our economy, yet it damages our environment.
The current international system is fragmenting rapidly since the end of the Cold War. A lot of regions in the world are still trying to find the balance of power in the international system, which the U.S. often intervenes to provide its brand of “global leadership”. Some countries like China are emerging as a global power since a few years ago. Subsequently, this will lead to a major threat to the U.S. status as a global major power. The rise of power by China in the international scene signifies the unpredictable nature of the international system. I would argue that the three most critical challenges for the U.S. arising out of this environment are the future world globalization that will cause a conflict between its domestic and foreign policy, the rise of China as a global power, and the ever globalization of terrorism. I believe that the U.S. should be pragmatic in handling its foreign policy and handle each situation independently without a fix doctrine in order to minimize the unintended consequences produced by the globalization of the world.