FOREIGN AND MILITARYPOLICY

American Government:WE ARE NOT ALONE

FOREIGN AND MILITARYPOLICY

In this unit we will cover… The Roots of American Foreign and MilitaryPolicy U.S. policy during and after the Cold War The role of the president in foreign policy The ways that Congress influences foreignpolicy The challenges that the U.S. faces in the 21stCentury The ways foreign policy is enacted The connection between economic policy and

foreign policy

The Roots of U.S. Foreign andMilitary Policy

The Constitution lays out the institutionalframework for foreign and defense policy. Foreign policymaking power is clearly afederal power, not a power of the states. The Framers intended to divideresponsibility for foreign affairs betweenthe president and Congress.

The Monroe Doctrine

In the 1820s Latin American countriesbegan to declare their independence fromEuropean colonial powers. The U.S. under President James Monroeannounced that any attempt to re-extendpolitical control over Latin Americawould be met with force.

World War I World War I broke out in Europe in

1914. The U.S. tried to remain neutral

but was eventually forced into the war by the German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare.

Over 5 million Americans served in WWI.

Following the war the U.S. and most other countries returned to a policies of high tariffs and isolationism.

The United States Becomes aWorld Leader

The Great Depression and Adolf Hitler shookthe U.S. out of its isolation and back onto theworld stage. In 1939, WWII began. The United States soonfound that its strategy of isolationism,unilateralism, and strict neutrality failed to

makethe country secure and keep it out of war. In December 1941, the Japanese bombed

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Germany declared war on the U.S.

United Nations

Learning from the lessons of isolationism and trade wars following WWI the allies took an internationalist approach following WWII.

Before the end of WWII, FDR, Churchill, and the allies created the United Nations to promote security of member nations and promote economic prosperity around the globe.

The five great powers – U.S., Soviet Union, China, France, and Great Britain – were seated on the Security Council.

The Origins of the Cold War

At the end of WWII, Joseph Stalin, leader of the USSR, encouraged the spread of communism through eastern and central Europe and into the Balkans.

President Truman responded with the Truman Doctrine to contain the expansion of communism.

This was the beginning of a bipartisan consensus in foreign affairs to resist communism and oppose the Soviet Union that lasted until the late 1980s.

Bretton Woods and TheMarshall Plan

Following WWII, international institutions wereestablished to solve global economic problems. The common view at the Bretton Woods meetingwas that the depression of the 1930s and the riseof fascism could be traced to the collapse ofinternational trade and isolationist foreignpolicies. The Marshall Plan was enacted to aid therecovery of war torn European nations. At Bretton Woods the World Bank and IMF wereestablished.

Foreign policy powers of branches of government

Congress has the power to declare war and to appropriate funds.

The Senate has the power to confirm ambassadors and to ratify treaties.

The Supreme Court has the power to interpret treaties.

President of the World?

The United States is the world’s greatestsuperpower. The US president is the most powerfulforeign policymaker and world leader. This reality would have shocked theFounding Fathers.

Presidential Primacy inForeign Affairs

Since George Washington, the president has beenpreeminent in foreign affairs and has gotten even morepowerful in recent years. Alexander Hamilton argued for presidential

supremacy in foreign relations because foreign policy was different than domestic policy in several ways.

It requires– accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the world– a steady and systematic adherence to the same view– a uniform sensibility to the national character– decision, secrecy, and dispatch

Key agencies in the foreign policy arena

President is Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and Chief Diplomat. These agencies are at his disposal:

State Department National Security Council Foreign Service Department of Defense Central Intelligence Agency

Congress and Foreign Policy

Congress has some constitutionalpowers (advice and consent) inforeign relations and sometimes seeksto assert them. Congress primarily exercises itsoversight powers to hold the presidentaccountable for his/her foreign policy.

Treaties and ExecutiveAgreements

The Constitution grants the president the power to

commit to legally binding internationalcommitments.1. Treaties-binding contracts with foreign

nations2. Executive Agreements- international

agreements brokered between the president and the leader of another country

The War Powers Act

In 1973 Congress passed the War Powers Act to limit the president’s authority to introduce American troops into hostile situations.

All presidents since Nixon insist that this Act is unconstitutional and have ignored all or parts of the act.

The Act limits presidential deployment of troops to 60 days without a congressional vote. The period could be extended 30 days to allow for withdrawal of troops. Thepresident would be allowed to respond to an emergency but not wage a war without Congressional approval.

In reality, this Act has not hindered presidents at all.

The Public and Foreign Policy

Americans are mostly indifferent to questions of foreign policy Public opinion, special interests,

international organizations, and foreign countries influence foreign policy and national security issues.

Post-Cold War World Goals

Americans may think differently than foreign policy advisors:

Favor global activism butoppose aid to othernations Favor peace throughstrength but are wary ofinternationalorganizations Fear nuclear weapons and

support arms agreements Oppose the use of forceabroad and yet supportpresidents when theychose force Worry about free tradeand yet are willing toopen the US to broaderinvolvement in thepolitical economy

1. Map indicating states and territories and their diplomatic relations with the U.S.

* Blue represents the United States.     * Green represents nations with which the US has diplomatic relations.

    * Red represents nations with which the US does not have diplomatic

relations.      * Yellow represents nations that are disputed areas.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Worlds

21st Century Challenges

Promoting Democracy Promoting Prosperity Enhancing Security

Achieving Goals

Conventional diplomacy, foreign aid, economic sanctions, and military intervention abroad serve to protect American interests and promote national security.

Foreign policy goals

Fulfilling a commitment to preserve a peaceful world

Promoting democratic values Protecting nations from aggression Encouraging market-oriented economies

and free trade Safeguarding the global environment Advancing international cooperation

The Global Economy

Democracy and capitalism go hand in hand as they both promote freedom.

With technology, trade extends beyond our borders most of the time.

International trade affects everyone everywhere.

The global economy deeply affects national security and foreign policy.

Recently, industrial espionage and cyber attacks the most powerful form of spying.

The Global Economy

Working from your strength:

Nations in the Global Economy may self-select to trade their resources, goods, or services, based on their comparative advantage. Although achieving wealth is easier in a well-functioning economy, this leaves nations that have chosen to specialize vulnerable at times of national or global economic crisis.

The Global Economy Making foreign policy decisions

requires balancing competing or contradictory foreign policy goals.

Virginia and United States businesses have become multinational in their quest for resources, markets, and profits.

International trade provides Virginia and the United States with goods and services for which they do not possess absolute or comparative advantage.

Virginia and the United States benefit when they produce goods and services for which they have a comparative advantage, and trade for other items.

Recent initiatives addressing foreign policy challenges

Trading with China Curtailing human rights abuses Controlling nuclear and biological arms Determining the future of NATO Curbing drug traffic Improving global environment

United States trade agreements

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): A free-trade zone of Canada, Mexico, and the United States intended to eliminate trade barriers, promote fair competition, and increase investment opportunities

World Trade Organization (WTO): Established in 1995. Its role is administering trade agreements, handling disputes, and providing a venue for negotiating among its member nations.

We are not alone