POLS%201301-165%20%20%20%20%202/16/04

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POLS 1301-165 2/16/04

• The President and Foreign Policy

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What is Foreign Policy?

• A countrys official positions, practices, and
  procedures for dealing with actors outside its
  borders.
• Determined by national-interestnational
  security, economic interests.
• Also influenced by values of society where there
  is no direct national interest. (e.g.,
  humanitarian interventione.g., Kosovo, Somalia)
• Foreign policy formulation, particularly
  humanitarian intervention, is difficult. Risk
  dangerous foreign entanglements, and similarly,
  the criticism of inaction.

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Key Events

• Washingtons farewell address neutrality,
  avoiding entangling alliances.
• Monroe Doctrine Americas were not to be
  considered as subjects for future colonization
• WWI German subs attacked US ships
• WWII Japan Attack on Pearl Harbor
• Beginning of globalism
• Reconstruction of Germany
• Entry into NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
  Organization)
• Truman Doctrine Containment of Communism
• Korea, Vietnam, cold war with Russia
• Clinton policy of enlargement promoting
  successful market democracies

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Bush Doctrine

• "We will pursue nations that provide aid or
  safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every
  region, now has a decision to make. Either you
  are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From
  this day forward, any nation that continues to
  harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by
  the United States as a hostile regime."

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External Actors

• Foreign policy actions directed towards external
  actors.
• Can be divided into four categories
• IGOsU.N., NATO, OPEC, OAS. First IGO was
  Congress of Europe. Evolved into the now
  defunct League of Nations and the U.N. Grown
  exponentially since turn of the century. (37 in
  1909 132 in 1956 and 293 in 1990)
• NGOsAmnesty International, Greenpeace. Have
  also proliferated in last half century.
• MNCsHave greatly expanded. So too, has their
  influence.
• Miscellaneous Actors Hamas, Islamic Jihad and
  IRA.

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Who Makes Foreign Policy?

• The Presidentsets foreign policy through
  informal powers.
• Substantial opportunity to communicate with
  public.
• Shapes the direction of interests of foreign
  policy.
• The Executive Branch
• President atop a pyramid of executive agencies
  and departments.
• NSCGroup of foreign policy advisers.
• State DepartmentManages foreign affairs. First
  department established.
• DODManage American soldiers and their equipment
• Intelligence Community

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Who Makes Foreign Policy (Contd)

• Presidential Authority in Foreign Policy
• Constitutional Powers Chief of state, Chief
  executive, Commander-in-chief, Chief diplomat,
  Chief legislator.
• What does this mean?
• Exercise substantial powers in directing foreign
  policy through several avenues
• Commander-in-chief of U.S. militarycan mobilize
  troops.
• Chief diplomatMost prominent representative of
  America and its values and interests.
• Chief legislatorSigns laws.
• Framers fears of Imperial Presidency resulted
  in less presidential authority.

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Who Makes Foreign Policy (Contd)

• CongressAlso constitutionally delegated powers
  in foreign affairs.
• Ratify treaties, declare war, appropriate funds.
• Concern with domestic affairs rather than
  international affairs
• Congressional organization (or disorganization)
  can hamper role in foreign policy
• These factors lead to a rather passive role in
  foreign policy due to the fast-moving nature of
  foreign policy.
• Delegation of powers to both Congress and
  Executive establishes checks and balances.
• Constitutional principle of CB ideally
  eliminates monopolization of power by one branch.
• Examples President is C in C, but Congress must
  declare war and appropriate funds President
  chief diplomat, but Congress must ratify
  treaties.
• President can subvert these restraints
• Introduce troops without declaring war. Have not
  declared war since WWII.
• Bypassing Congress has become increasingly
  popular since Korean War (Vietnam, Lebanon,
  Panama, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan)

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Restraints on Presidential Power

• War Powers Act (1973)Passed to limit
  presidential authority to commit troops overseas.
• In response to the growing unpopularity of the
  Vietnam War.
• Passed over President Nixons veto.
• Three provisions
• President must inform Congress of the
  introduction of forces into hostilities or
  situations where imminent involvement in
  hostilities is clearly indicated by the
  circumstances.
• Troop commitments by the president cannot extend
  past sixty days without specific congressional
  authorization.
• Any time American forces become engaged without
  declaration of war, Congress can direct the
  president to disengage such troops by concurrent
  resolution of the two houses.

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Instruments of Foreign Policy

• Political Instruments
• Include Propagandaintended to shape the views of
  a foreign audience. Examples from the war on
  terrorism. Information with a purpose
• Disbanded Office of Strategic Information
• VOA
• Al ManarHizbollah controlled TV station
• Diplomacyformal communication between countries.
  Primary responsibility lies with State
  Department. Extremely tricky. Evident in schism
  in approach to war on terrorism between
  hawks(Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith) and
  doves (Colin Powell).
• Can be multilateral (current negotiations with
  North Korea) or bilateral (past dealings with
  North Korea in 1994)
• Covert OpsU.S. is primary mover, although it
  does not appear to be involved at all.

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Instruments of Foreign Policy (Contd)

• Economic Instruments
• Foreign Aidintended to bolster foreign
  economies. Also serve to induce compliance with
  American policies.
• Marshall Plan
• Support to Pakistan
• Constitutes very small portion of American
  budget--.4 percent, well below that which is
  recommended by U.N.
• Economic sanctionsstick approach to diplomacy.
  Restriction of trade with other countries at
  odds with American foreign policy interests.
• Cuba
• Iraq pre-invasion.

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Instruments of Foreign Policy (Contd)

• Military Instruments
• Due to its severity, disinclined to employ
• Three functions
• DeterrenceMAD
• Preemptive or retaliatory attacks. Examples
  Iraqi war, Libya 1986 following discotheque
  bombing.
• Threat valueFirst Gulf War
• Recent budget request nearly 380 billion. More
  than the next twenty-five nations military
  spending combined.
• American military dominance unchallenged.