Foreign and Defense Policy

Foreign Policy Defined

Foreign policy: Policies of the federal government directed

to matters beyond (outside) US borders, especially relations with other countries.

International objectives pursued by a country in dealings with other countries

The methods to achieve the objectives, in

order to advance national interests.

U.S. Foreign Policy

The U.S. foreign policy is dynamic. It is always changing and will continue to change as times and world affairs change.

Examples of Foreign Policy

Defense Democracy and Human Rights Foreign Aid The Global Environment International Trade Weapons Proliferation Activities in Regions of the World

Goals of Foreign Policy

National Security World Peace Self- government (democracy)

Free and Open Trade Concern for Humanity

Goal: National Security To remain free and independent

To be secure from unwanted foreign influence

Includes the use of ambassadors and treaties

Military CIA

Central Intelligence Agency FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigations

Goal: World Peace Promote peace and prevent

conflicts Cooperation with governments

of foreign nations Help save lives, money, and

resources in foreign nations Give aid to foreign nations Membership in The United

Nations

Goal:Self Government /

Democracy Encourage the growth of democracy

in other nations and regions Fair elections, choices, individual

freedoms Immigration

Defined: To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native

Goal: Free Trade

Trade arrangements where tariffs or other barriers to the free flow of goods and services are eliminated.

The basic argument for free trade is based on the idea that each region should concentrate on what it can produce most cheaply and efficiently and should exchange its products for those it is less able to produce economically.

Disadvantages of Free Trade: Small local companies get out

maneuvered and overtaken by large corporate companies

Fewer jobs available for some home countries Example: few jobs available for US auto makers

there is more competition.

Advantages of Free Trade

Provides employment around the world competition creates lower cost of

goods forces countries into specializing in

what they are good at This increased efficiency and results in

a lower opportunity costs Offers access to natural resources

around the world Oil, other

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

A trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which took effect January 1, 1994.

Its purpose is to promote trade between one another and increase the efficiency and fairness of trade between the three nations.

Goal: Humanitarian

Defined: Having concern for or helping to improve the welfare of other people.

Helps to provide political stability in other nations.

Examples: Aid for natural disasters around the world Aid for food shortages Aid of medical supplies and technology

Foreign Policy Categories

IsolationismImperialismInterventionism

Isolationism Avoidance of international

relations: A government policy based on the belief that national interests are best served by avoiding economic and political alliances with other countries.

Interventionism

Involvement in another country’s affairs: Political interference or military involvement by one country in the affairs of another.

Imperialism Belief in empire-building:

The policy of extending the rule or influence of a country over other countries or colonies.

Domination by an empire: The political, military, or economic domination of one country over another.

Decision Making Possible actions government might

take: Do nothing * Pres. statement Call for negotiations* Propaganda Economic aid * Economic sanctions Send military materials * Military presence Military threats * Blockade Mobilize troops * Subversive action Use troops spy Bombing assassination Invasion weaken leadership

Roots of U.S. Foreign and Defense Policy

Isolationism in the early republic

Growing power and influence World War I and the League of Nations

The interwar years

Isolationism in the Early Republic

The Embargo Act of 1807

The War of 1812

The Monroe Doctrine of 1823

Growing Power and Influence

Trade policy and commerce Expansionism and manifest

destiny Dominance over the western

hemisphere The Roosevelt Corollary of 1904

Interest in Asia The Spanish-American War

World War I and the League of Nations

World War I League of

Nations Collective

security Failure to

pass the Treaty of Versailles

The Interwar Years

Disarmament Isolationism

The Kellogg-Briand Pact

The United States as a World Power

World War II and its aftermath The Cold War and containment

Détente and human rights The Post-Cold War world The war on terrorism

World War II and Its Aftermath

The U.S. internationalism

Bretton Woods System The International

Monetary Fund (IMF) The World Bank The General Agreement

on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

The Cold War and Containment

Containment The Truman Doctrine The Marshall Plan North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO) The Cold War

Latin American: The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Vietnam War

Détente and Human Rights

Nixon and detente The “China card” The SALT agreements

Carter and human rights The Reagan Doctrine Afghanistan

The Post-Cold War World Operation Desert Storm Clinton and enlargement

Economic: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Political (NATO, EU)

The War on Terrorism

September 11 and the war in Afghanistan

The war in Iraq

Foreign and Defense Policy Decision Making

The Constitution The Executive Branch

The President The National Security

Council The Departments of

State, Defense, and Homeland Security

The Intelligence community

Congress

Oversight Treaties and executive

agreements Appointments – weakly

exercised Appropriations The War Powers Act

Interest Groups

Other actors can become active in foreign policy decision-making

The military industrial complex News media, which acts as a filter Public opinion, interest, and

action Nongovernmental organizations

Contemporary Challenges in Foreign and Defense

Policy Trade Immigration and border security

Terrorism Nuclear weapons

Trade

Free trade system Making trade policy

NAFTA WTO

The Case of China 1949-1979 economic isolation The U.S.-China bilateral trade

agreement (1979) 2001 China joins WTO

Immigration and Border Security

Making immigration policy Open door policy Restrictive quotas Border blockades

The case of Mexico

Terrorism

Making counterterrorism policy Diplomacy – get other states on

board Military power Economic power Covert operations

The case of Al-Qaeda

Nuclear Weapons

Making arms proliferation policy disarmament arms control denial defensive weapons counterproliferation

The case of North Korea The International Atomic Energy

Association (IAEA)

Toward Reform: Rethinking American Power

Unilateralism The United States emerged from the Cold

War as the world’s dominant power. It was able to act unilaterally. Lengthy wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and

a struggling global economy weaken it. Multilateralism

China is primary challenger and a potential partner

League of Democracies

How has defense spending changed over time?

Who are the United States’ major trading partners?