American Foreign Policy

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American Foreign Policy

• Chapters 2-3
• Assaf Lahav and Nadav Mor

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History of US Foreign Policy

• Was the US really ever Isolationistic?

• Isolationism the policy or doctrine of
  isolating one's country from the affairs of other
  nations by declining to enter into alliances,
  foreign economic commitments, international
  agreements, etc., seeking to devote the entire
  efforts of one's country to its own advancement
  and remain at peace by avoiding foreign
  entanglements and responsibilities.

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The Continental Era (1776 1860s)

• US won its independence from England (1776)
• Though far from Europe, the US faced territorial
  threats from European powers England, France,
  Spain, Russia.
• US was weak focused more on internal issues
  democracy/economy nation building.
• Continental expansion Protect the nation from
  outside threats by expanding its own territory.
  Strengthen economy by getting more land from Euro
  powers.
• US politics was connected to European politics.

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Expansion towards the West Declaration of
Independence
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US Expansion

• Most of the land was bought/taken by force from
  European powers. Was done easily due to power
  struggles in Europe.
• Native American suffered the most from Western
  expansion policy.
• Was not only the policy of government and army,
  but also of private entrepreneurial Americans in
  search for land, gold etc.
• By 1860s went from 13 colonies to a country
  covering most of the Continent.

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Western Expansion

• Manifest Destiny a phrase that expressed the
  belief that the United States was destined to
  expand from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific
  Ocean it has also been used to advocate
  territorial expansion.

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contd.

• Despite this, merchants were met with tough
  regulations in Europe. This lead to a more
  nationalistic economy encouraging and
  protecting growth of local business by imposing
  tariffs. Tariffs became an integral part of
  foreign trade policy.
• Monroe Doctrine (1823) - a doctrine which
  proclaimed that European powers should no longer
  colonize or interfere with the affairs of the
  nations of the Americas. The United States
  planned to stay neutral in wars between European
  powers and its colonies. However, if these latter
  types of wars were to occur in the Americas, the
  United States would view such action as hostile.

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Regional Era

• At the end of the Civil War (1865), the US was a
  stable nation, with a vibrant economy, not facing
  international threats. US foreign policy was
  centered around political stability and economic
  expansion abroad mainly in South America and
  Asia.
• US Involvement and presence in these regions lead
  to growing military interventions, affirming the
  aspects of the Monroe Doctrine. Big Stick
  policies Roosevelt.
• After victory in the Spanish-American War (1898),
  the US gained an important foothold in these
  regions - control over the former Spanish
  colonies of Puerto Rico, the Philippines and
  Guam.
• Influence in Asia was limited due to geographic
  distance.
• Sphere of Influence
• WWI as a result of debts and damages to
  European countries, the US became important as a
  source of finance. The rest of the world
  followed.

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Post-Spanish-American War map US, including Cuba
and the Philippines.
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Global Era

• Following the great depression and WWII, US
  foreign policy centered around economic growth
  and national security.
• Monetary policies included formation of the World
  Bank, IMF and GATT Bretton Woods system.
• Political policies centered around US postwar
  involvement in war ravaged Europe. Following the
  War, US became the world leader.
• Roosevelt Formation of the UN. Keeping peace
  among big 5 was a political strategy. Sphere of
  influence of each country will keep the peace,
  while at the same time improve the economy.
• Truman lacked experience, USA vs. USSR put an
  end to Roosevelts plan of peace among big 5.

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Cold War Era

• Twin goals national security and economic
  prosperity vs. the threat of Communist
  expansion.
• US foreign policy was driven by national
  security, which lead to several proxy wars.
• Truman Doctrine (1947) It stated that the U.S.
  would support Greece and Turkey with economic and
  military aid to prevent their falling into the
  Soviet sphere. The Doctrine shifted American
  foreign policy towards the Soviet Union from
  détente to a policy of containment of Soviet
  expansion. It is often used by historians as the
  starting date of the Cold War. US continued to
  send aid to Western European nations.
• US involvement in Vietnam helping the South
  against communist North FAILED

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European political alliances during the Cold War
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Post-Vietnam War Era

• After losing the Vietnam War, new patterns of
  American foreign policy.
• Foreign policy became high policy again.
• Modification of foreign policy with each new
  president.
• Difficulties maintaining a policy that will
  satisfy everyone, including domestically.
• Policy shifted from containment for Communism to
  realpolitik, counterbalancing the USSRs
  influence, and maintaining stability.
• Period of détente with USSR during Nixon and
  Ford years.
• 1977 Containment no longer the basis of foreign
  policy.
• Reagan era Foreign policy returns to containment
  basis.
• Large military buildups
• Iran-Contra affair
• Cold War policies

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Post-Cold War Era 1990s

• The end of the Cold War introduced new
  opportunities and constraints in foreign policy.
• Bush Sr. Admin. caught between past legacy, and
  uncertainty regarding collapse of USSR.
• With collapse of USSR, foreign policy was not
  consistent. No dominant pattern.
• US let Western Europe respond to USSR collapse.
• On the other hand, Bush took some imitative.
• e.g. Tiananmen Square support, Panama, Gulf War.

• Clinton Admin. reactive.
• Some successes and failures. Kosovo, Haiti,
  Bosnia, ME, Somalia
• Admin. highlighted domestic policies and inter.
  economics.
• Notable accomplishments NAFTA, WTO

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2000 George Bush Jr.

• Not much global vision at first.
• Many foreign policy advisors he selected worked
  with his father similar policies, based on Cold
  War legacy. Tentative policy at first (Chinese
  spy plane)
• 9/11 GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM
• Axis of evil, bin-Ladin, Hussein new enemies.
  Not Communism anymore.
• Deterrence, containment, destruction of
  Terrorism.
• black-and-white enemy.
• Major defense buildup, Homeland Security, use
  of force abroad.

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Events that impacted US foreign policy

• Events that impacted American foreign policy
• International crises
• After World War II, two major developments at the
  U.S policy stand out
• The rise of the East West conflict between the
  U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
• Events like Cold War, the rise of third world
  nationalism, the rise of Fidel Castro, the
  launching of the first satellite Sputnik by the
  U.S.S.R. all these events and more build the
  American policy of "free world" led by the U.S
  against the totalitarian world led by the
  U.S.S.R.

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• Major stages in the evolution of American power
  after World War II
• Post WWII 1940s 1960s
• Increasing global complexity 1960s 1980s
• The post Cold War era
• The relative decline of American power
• In the 1960s Europes great nations started to
  recover from the War
• Vietnam (after the war, the US could no longer
  exert influence with their military power like
  in the 50s)
• In the 80s US military influence in places like
  Nicaragua and Panama was still strong but became
  more costly in the political area.

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contd.

• During the 70s and the 80s U.S. power continued
  to declined dramatically.
• Total world production produced by the U.S
  declined from 50 to 24.
• The American share of steel in the world declined
  from 45 to 17
• Crude petroleum declined from 53 to 14 in the
  world.
• Financial reserves decreased from 49 to 7
• Export decreased from 18 to 11
• Post Cold war, major stage. The end of the cold
  war 1989-1990.
• The collapse of Communism
• Continuation of global conflicts

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Any Questions?