International Events

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International Events

• Foreign Policy and National Defense

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Foreign Policy

• Foreign policy is all the actions and stands that
  a nation takes in its relations with other
  nations.
• In The Federalist No. 72, Alexander Hamilton
  noted that the actual conduct of Americas
  foreign affairs would be in the hands of the
  assistants of the President
• Today, most of those assistants are in the State
  Department and Department of defense

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• The State Department, headed by the Secretary of
  State, advises the President on foreign policy
  matters and carries out policies through its
  diplomats abroad
• The Secretary of Defense is the Presidents chief
  aide and advisor on military matters and the head
  of the Defense Department
• Other agencies, departments, or officials
  involved in foreign policy are the CIA, Homeland
  Security, NASA, National Security Council

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International Relations

• American foreign policy guides all relationship
  with the rest of the world
• International trade
• Immigration
• Treaties
• Foreign Aid
• Defense civilian control over the military
• National Security

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Theories of World Politics

• A theory is an intellectual tool that allows us
  to make sense of the complex world.
• Theory a well substantiated explanation of some
  aspect of the natural world
• Theory is an organized system of accepted
  knowledge that applies in a variety of
  circumstances to explain a certain set of
  phenomena (observable events)

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Back to theories of world politics

• Based on a set of core (basic) assumptions,
  theory paints a picture of the world explaining
  how it is put together, what dangers exist and
  what opportunities are present
• Theory may explain international behavior and/or
  make predictions about the future
• Various theories compete to most accurately
  explain world politics and guide states in
  international behavior

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Realism

• A theory popularized by Greek historian,
  Thucydides, in the 5th century B.C.
• The theory has dominated for 2,500 years
• Key assumptions
• Individuals are evil by nature
• The self interest of individuals makes genuine
  cooperation problematic
• States are guided by a national interest that
  dictates power

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• Key assumptions (continued)
• The international system is anarchic, meaning
  there is no supranational force capable of
  regulating the action of the states
• Peace is obtained when states form alliances of
  rough equals, establishing a balance of power

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• Important concepts
• Zero-sum Game
• When the gains of one actor result equal losses
  for another
• Realists believe that the zero-sum nature of
  world politics prevents cooperation among states
• Security Dilemma
• When the attempt by one state to increase its
  security by building up arms results in the
  decreased security of another state
• The other state then builds up arms to increase
  its security
• Arms Race
• The logical product of the security dilemma is
  when two or more states build up their militaries
  in response to one another

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• Policy Prescriptions
• Increase military arms to deter attack
• Form alliances with other states to promote a
  balance of power
• Be suspicious of all states, including allies,
  and put little faith in international
  organizations and international law to protect
  states from war

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Liberalism(Idealism)

• A theory associated with the French Enlightenment
  thinkers that challenge the core assumptions of
  Realism
• Liberals are optimists about the human condition
  and possibilities of cooperation
• Key Assumptions
• The individual is good by nature
• The fundamental concern for the welfare of others
  makes progress through cooperation possible
• Actors goals can be compatible and, therefore,
  joint gains are possible

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• Key Assumptions (continued)
• States with democratic institutions preserve
  peace states with non-democratic institutions
  promote war
• The anarchic nature of the international system
  can be reduced or eradicated through the
  establishment of effective international
  organizations and international law
• War is not inevitable

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• Important Concepts
• Mutual Benefit Games
• When gains may be achieved simultaneously by more
  than one actor
• Idealists believe that the mutual benefit nature
  of world politics promotes cooperation among the
  states
• Interdependence
• A situation whereby actions and events in one
  state, society, or part of the world affect
  peoples elsewhere

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• According to idealism, interdependence promotes
  communication and understanding, resulting in a
  reduction of hostilities and war
• Democratic Peace
• Democratic countries don't fight each other
• The spread of democratic governance throughout
  the world will reduce the probability of war

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• Policy Prescriptions
• Promote democratic institutions at home and
  abroad
• Establish and support international organizations
  and international law
• Create links among people and states through
  international trade and cooperation
• Reduce military arms to the level of self defense

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Political Dictionary

• Domestic Affairs
• Foreign Affairs
• Isolationism
• Foreign Policy
• Right of Legation
• Ambassador
• Diplomatic Immunity
• Internationalism

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• Domestic Affairs All matters, not directly
  connected to the realm of foreign affairs
• Foreign Affairs a nations relations with
  foreign countries
• Isolationism A purposeful refusal to become
  generally involved in the affairs of the rest of
  the world
• Foreign Policy The strategies and goals that
  guide a nations relations with other countries

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• Right of Legation The right to send and receive
  diplomatic representatives
• Ambassador An official representative of the
  United States appointed by the President to
  represent the nation in matters of diplomacy
• Diplomatic Immunity When an ambassador is not
  subject to the laws of the state to which they
  are accredited
• Internationalism - Involvement in world affairs

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Development of Foreign Policy

• Todays global environment is rapidly changing
• End of the Cold War no great power rivalries
  that threaten immediately the peace of the world
• Increasing economic and trade competition
• Spread of international terrorism

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Goals of Foreign Policy

• Foreign policy consists of the strategies and
  goals that guide a nations relations with other
  countries and groups in the world
• National security
• Preserve the security of the United States
• Protection of a nations borders and territories
  against invasion by foreign powers
• Goal of security helps determine how the US deals
  with other nations
• Every part of foreign policy is related to
  national security

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• Free and open trade
• A nations vital economic interests must be
  protected
• Maintaining trade with other nations
• Access to natural resources
• Productive farms and factories
• Foreign Markets
• US generally supports trade that is free from
  both import and export restrictions

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• World Peace
• Americans work for world peace
• When nations are at peace it is easier to avoid
  being drawn into conflict
• US has cooperated with other countries to settle
  disputes
• US has supplied economic aid
• Joined the UN and other organizations

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• Democratic governments
• US has been an example of a democracy
• US gives aid to other democracies
• US helps create democratic political systems
• 1990s US helped Communist countries to form
  democracies

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• Concern for humanity
• The US has helped counties after natural
  disasters
• Provided food, medical supplies, technical
  assistance
• Humanitarian assistance promotes stability

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Evolution of American Foreign Policy

• Until the late 1800s American policy was based
  on isolationism
• Avoiding involvement in world affairs
  especially Europe
• During the 20th Century foreign policy advisors
  shifted toward a policy of internationalism a
  belief involvement in world affairs was necessary

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Isolationism to Internationalism

• Isolationism
• A purposeful refusal to become generally involved
  in the affairs of the rest of the world
• Washington urged Americans to follow a path of
  isolation
• US was a small nation, deeply in debt and
  attempting to build a new government
• Thos Jefferson warned against entangling
  alliances should not ask for privileges or feel
  obliged to grant others

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• Monroe Doctrine
• In 1823 James Monroe, POTUS, announced a policy
  any attempt to extend influence into the
  western hemisphere as dangerous to our peace
  and safety

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• The US rapidly began to become a world power in
  the 1890s
• Began to look for new sources of raw materials
  and new markets for its products
• 1898 fought the Spanish American War
• Free Cuba from Spanish rule
• Acquired Philippine Islands, Guam, and Puerto
  Rico
• Annexed Hawaii (1898) and Samoa (1900)

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• Involvement in Two World Wars
• WWI broke out in Europe in 1914, Isolationist
  sentiment was still strong in the US
• In response to unrestricted submarine warfare and
  attacks against neutral ships - including those
  of the US The US declared war on Germany.
• For the first time American troops went overseas
  to fight a European War

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• After WWI Americans returned to isolation
• Failure to achieve ideals of democracy
• Terrible costs in human lives
• During the 20s and 30s dictators came to power
  in Europe at the time Americans wanted to avoid
  involvement
• Nations began to use force to overtake other
  nations

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• World War II
• US attempts to remain neutral
• Japanese attack Pearl Harbor
• US brought into the war and isolation was ended
  and foreign policy has been based on
  internationalism