Foreign Policy

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Foreign Policy
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Definitions

• Foreign Policy is the goals the US wants to
  achieve in the world, along with the techniques
  and strategies used to achieve these goals.
• E.g. If we want stability in the Middle East, we
  may use diplomacy, economic aid, technical
  assistance, and military intervention.

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National Security Policy

• This is a main goal of foreign policy.
• The National Security Council acts as an advisory
  body to the president
• The State Department is responsible for our
  foreign diplomatic core and policy.
• Defense policy is part of national security
  policy, and the president relies on the
  Department of Defense for this policy.

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Moral Idealism

• This is a foreign policy based on moral
  considerations. It projects the US as a nation
  that helps other nations, and spreads American
  good will
• E.g Woodrow Wilsons League of Nations
• JFKs Peace Corps
• Jimmy Carters emphasis on Human Rights

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Political Realism

• This is foreign policy sees the world as a
  dangerous place, and the US must defend itself.
• The Truman Doctrine sought to contain the spread
  of communism
• The current policy after 9/11 is designed to
  defeat terrorism

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Mixture of goals

• Most US foreign policy contains a mixture of
  moral idealism and political realism.
• For example, George W. Bushs policy is Iraq was
  explained as ending the evil Saddam regime, that
  oppressed the Iraqi people.
• In addition, he stressed overthrowing Saddam as a
  way to end an imminent Iraqi threat against the
  US, due to weapons of mass destruction.

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Powers of Congress in Foreign Policy

• Congress has power to declare wars (Article 1
  section 8)
• It has declared war five times in our history
  War of 1812, Mexican-American War 1846, Spanish
  American War1898 , WW 1 1917, and WW 2 1941)
• War Powers Act passed in 1973 - President must
  report to Congress after sending troops. Needs
  Congressional approval after 60 days.

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Congressional control continued

• Congress (the Senate) ratifies treaties
• Congress controls monies for foreign policy (eg.
  Dept. of State and Defense) Through appropriation
  bills.
• The Congress also must confirm key foreign policy
  appointments of President, such as the Secretary
  of State and Secretary of Defense.

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Presidential Power in Foreign Policy

• Congress declares war, but the President is
  deemed Commander and Chief of the Armed forces in
  Article II of the Constitution
• The President can send troops into battle for 60
  days without Congressional approval (War Powers
  Act)

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• The Senate must confirm treaties, but the
  President may sign Executive Agreements with
  other countries without congressional approval.
  (95 of modern agreements are Executive
  Agreements, not treaties)
• President has informal powers in foreign policy
  including the bully pulpit used to persuade the
  American public.

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Presidential Powers

• The Executive Branch has four important foreign
  policy making groups Department of State, The
  National Security Council, the CIA, and the
  Department of Defense.
• President has access to top secret information
  daily, and therefore is considered to be more
  expert than the Congress on crucial foreign
  policy decisions.

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Critiques of Foreign Policy

• Some critics argue that the President has become
  too powerful in carrying out foreign policy,
  without Congressional approval (The Imperial
  Presidency)
• What do you think?

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Internationalism v. Isolationism

• The American public has both of these tendencies.
• For example, in the isolationism of the 30s was
  shattered by Pearl Harbor in 1941. Or the The
  Cold War and the policy of containment kept the
  US active in international affairs.

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Unilateral vs. Multilateral

• Unilateral means a nation acts without partners,
  on its own.
• Multilateral means a nation works in partnership
  with others
• E.g.United Nations (UN)

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Nuclear Proliferation

• The build up of nuclear arsenals during the Cold
  War, was primarily between the US and the Soviet
  Union.Since the fall of the Soviet Union, there
  has been the spread of nuclear capability.
• E.g China, Israel, Pakistan, and India have the
  bomb. Iran is able to enrich uranium and North
  Korea has said it has nuclear capability.
• Clintons Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was not
  ratified by Congress in 1999.

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China

• China is an emerging world power, with a fast
  growing private economy.
• Nixon opened diplomatic relations with communist
  China.
• Normal trade relations were established between
  China and the US and China joined the World Trade
  Organization (WTO)
• China has come under criticism for human rights
  abuses against its citizens and Tibetans.

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Debate over Afghanistan

• Current US policy is focused on withdrawing all
  US troops by 2014
• Majority of Americans want to withdraw from
  sooner.
• Obamas Afghan policy focuses on training Afghan
  forces to resist Al Qaeda and Taliban
• What do you think?

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President Obamas Foreign Policy

• What aspects of President Obamas foreign policy
  would you say represents moral idealism and
  political realism?
• Which aspects of President Obamas foreign policy
  do you agree with, and which aspects do you
  disagree with?