Chapter 17Foreign Policy

American Government

Foreign Policy Defined

• Relations with other nations that includes economic, security, and environmental issues.

• The President oversees foreign policy• The state department handles day to day

operations

Isolationism to Internationalism

• For more than 150 years, domestic affairs were key, what was happening at home mattered most.

• Foreign affairs were of little or no concern.

• Isolationism, the refusal to become involved in the issues of the rest of the world

• Since World War II-– U.S. policy has focused on

those who promote– isolationism staying out of

others business– Aggression with a goal of

world peace• Afghanistan, Iraq

– Internationalism-Positive economic relations with other countries

Foreign Policy From Independence Through World War I

• Monroe Doctrine (1823) – Established U.S. as premier power in West

• Good Neighbor policy – Latin America 1930’s-Trade Relationship

• Open Door Policy– China 1899-Trade relationship

Two New PrinciplesCollective Security

• Collective security, involves a world community in which most nations would agree to act together against any nation that threatened the peace.

Deterrence• Deterrence is the policy of making America and its allies so

militarily strong that their very strength will deter—discourage, or even prevent—any attack.

The Defense DepartmentThis chart shows the chain of command of the American

military services.

The CIA and the INS

The CIA• Responsible for collecting,

analyzing, and reporting information for the President and the NSC.

The INS• Enforces immigration laws and

requirements and administers benefits to immigrants.

Foreign Aid

• Foreign aid—economic and military aid to other countries—has been a basic feature of American foreign policy for more than 50 years.

• Red Cross is an example of an international humanitarian organization which helps provide relief to foreign countries in need.

AlliancesNATO

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed to promote the collective defense of Western Europe.

• A regional Security Alliance

G8• Leaders of industrialized nations • Discusses current issues• France, Germany, Italy, Japan,

Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States

NAFTA• North American Free Trade

Agreement• Mutual Trade Agreement

between US, Canada and Mexico

Kyoto Treaty• Signed in 1997• Aimed at fighting global warming• US is not a member, 187 other

countries are

The United Nations

• Formed in 1945• Stop war and provide a platform for dialogue between

nations• 192 member nations• Headquartered in New York City• THE US’s Role-

– Promote Peace around the World– Improve living conditions– Support Human Rights of all people