The Importance of a Sphere of Influence to a Superpower Essay

Domestic policy differs from foreign policy, which deals with a nation’s relationship with other nations, domestic policy tends to be more visible and often more controversial. The relationship between domestic and the other nations is also commonly linked by the influence of border security, improved infrastructure, surging economy, domestic culture, political, religion, social attitudes, and many other variables. American focus on national security strategies to protect the United States, promoting economic prosperity, creating peace through strength, and gaining American influences in the world. Our relationship with other nations can vary depending on each belief or values. A basic aspect in the relation between domestic and other nations is the importance of national identity and consistent needs to protect such values. Domestic and foreign policy can be distinguished as two separate concepts in international relations, because some nations do not have a similar set of objectives. Domestic sources play their role in the forms of compromises between social structure and elements of the government. The influence of the domestic policy forms the basis of foreign strategy. The relationship between domestic and other nations are separable in the sense that global politics play a major role in the modern global society and the conduct of states in

But in case of oil or resources it revolves around all these spheres. Because of the dependence America has a huge disadvantage and has the potential to inflict great

President Monroe wrote in the Monroe Doctrine, “ . . . .We owe it therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. . . .” This showed that America was taking all other countries as a threat as long as they tried to control areas in their hemisphere. This meant America was all about keeping their own country safe.

The United States also faces troubles in international relations due to the lack of absolute sovereignty. Hamilton claims that ambassadors abroad do not truly represent the United States because there is no collective interest and consent by the states. Moreover, the potential consequences of this practice could lead to both a fear of foreign enemies and domestic ones. Without any federal oversight or solidarity regarding international affairs, what is to stop an ambitious state from placing a foreign interest over the nation? Perhaps a large state was doing incredibly well and grew fearful of their neighboring states, what would stop them from surreptitiously working with a foreign power to invade or overthrow other states in the union? Another issue central to the lack of sovereignty is the absence of coercive powers within the federal system. The federal government has no ability to raise taxes, cannot raise or maintain a standing army, and has no mechanism for punishing states for non-compliance with federal

The United States has been a super power for decades, and since America has always involved themselves in other countries' problems. Instead of isolationism, the country has practiced getting involved. Since the Monroe Presidency, America has been named the World's police force. Dispelling anarchists, and stopping coos, the united states portrays itself as the world protector. Since Monroe, some Americans have felt that isolation is the way to go, and most feel that it is our right to offer assistance. Two recent incidents, Operation Desert Storm and The War in Bosnia have allowed the United States to show off it's strength, both on the military and political level. It has also given the chance for America to evaluate it's foreign policy,

Sphere of Influence: an area or region over which a country has significant cultural, economic, military, or political influence

The United States has recognized that local threats have worldwide consequences. Recognizing our global interconnectedness was essential for any foreign policy, especially in a world where traditional borders are quickly breaking down. The Doctrine highlighted that foreign intervention does not need to rely solely on military action. Today, political and economic sanctions are a key part of American foreign policy (Bolinder 2013). The Doctrine also calls for the U.S to lead the international community in spreading peace, prosperity and democracy around the world. It has become the foundation for United States foreign policy and a guidebook for international relations in a nuclear and digital age.

Politically, a bigger U.S. with a greater economic and strategic power gives it a more prominent role in international

influence in how the United States conducted itself internationally. Because of his position, the spread of

Throughout the Cold War, spheres of influence were causation for many oppressive policies and regimes. Despite attempts to control territory and create peace around the world, it merely lead to oppression of countries and their voting rights around the world. An example of this was that of Polish oppression under Soviet control throughout the Cold War. Despite the promise of the Soviet Union to allow free elections in Poland at Yalta, Poland found itself under Soviet control and

In the official Monroe Doctrine, it states that the United states did not seek to control any other countries they merely wanted to protect smaller countries against other major countries that wanted to imperialize them (Document K). The purpose of this document is to announce that America will no longer abide to the wishes of other countries, that they will assert their own opinions and take control on matters. The Americans used to be dominated by Britain and understand the struggle of being an effect of imperialism and have now made it their job to protect other countries who have a disadvantage. Richard Rush in the Memoranda of a Residence of the Court of London explains that America does not want Latin America to remain under the control of Spain, any other country, or themselves they want Latin America to govern themselves (Document B). The intended audience of his letter was the courts of London in an attempt to gain their support to help make Spain secede their right to the Latin American colonies. The United States wanted to charter more support behind their actions to help protect Latin American and thought that London would make a good ally un suppressing Spain. While the Monroe Doctrine was being proposed, other major powers did not want to interfere with Latin America’s colonization in fear that they would no longer be allies with Spain. In conclusion, America has a precedent in becoming involved in other countries affairs since implementing the Monroe

The U.S. has a history of being bad at entangling alliances. According to George Washington, “We need to be careful of tangling alliances” (Fromkin). For this reason, the United States was dragged into WWI. America should be constantly increasing its military, but for national defense, not for policing the world (Schneider). America's national security depends on America to stop getting involved in everything and to secure its borders. If America could stop spending millions on policing other countries; the weight of this task would be shifted to a group of nations that have their governments under control.

The question of, “Was America’s actions during the Cold War containment or hegemony?” cannot be easily answered with a single source or perspective. While some attempt to justify the United States’ actions during the Cold War as necessary to preserving freedom and the American way of life through the containment of the Soviet threat, there are just as many critics on the other side of the debate that have argued that, America used the Cold War as a veil under which it expanded it’s influence and power throughout the world. My intent is to show how some believe that America’s Cold War policies were completely justified and how others see America’s actions as nothing more than American imperialism.

In their book American Foreign Policy since World War 2, Steven W. Hook, and John Spanier take a historical look at American foreign policy. Since its independence, all through to the start of the 20th century, the United States had a policy of detachment. This was rooted in the believe that Europe, the only other meaningful powerful in the world in the 18th and 19th century, had intrinsic issues related to feudism that kept the continent in a constant state of war (Hook & Spanier, 2015). The U.S on its part was far away from Europe and had a unique chance to chart a different course, one free from the troubles of Europe. As a democracy free from the class systems of Europe and hence maintain peace and stability (Hook & Spanier, 2015). To maintain this peace and stability, it was in the United States interests to maintain detachment from Europe. In fact, Monroe wrote that Europe and its flawed system was evil and America should strive as much as possible to stay away from it (Hook & Spanier, 2015). However, in the 20th century, this policy of detachment was put to the test when the United States was drawn into the first and second world wars by external factors. This led the United States to get more engaged in global affairs. The idea behind engagement was to promote the ideals of democracy which, the U.S believed were the pillars of peace, as well as to protect itself from aggressors like Japan in the Second World War. After the

     After the tragedies of World War II, European leaders have made striving efforts to prevent such a catastrophic event from occurring on their continent again. The best solution seemed to be highly mechanized cooperation among the highest European powers to assure that future conflict, and perhaps war, could not arise between them. If all the states ran themselves in a manner cooperating with their neighbors, conflict could be avoided. To prevent other nations from not cooperating, treaties and institutions would have to be designed for each area of international interest such as trade, communications, security, and so forth. As the century progressed, more organizations, institutions and associations were