Where do you stand?

Theories of International Relations

I am wary of US involvement in the United Nations.

Agree or Disagree?

I think a more powerful American could make world peace more possible.

Agree or Disagree?

I don't want US policy decisions to be limited by world opinion or ethical considerations.

Agree or Disagree?

I support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security

Agree or Disagree?

I believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe the US should not act as a global cop.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe strong alliances are important to US interests

Agree or Disagree?

I support American unilateral action (Taking action that we feel is critical even without the support of our allies.)

Agree or Disagree?

I believe US economic policies must help lift up the world's poor.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe the US must weighing the political costs before taking foreign action.

Agree or Disagree?

I think it is important for the US to preserve our national identity and character and prevent it from being influenced by outside forces.

Agree or Disagree?

I am wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe the US should be the world's unchallenged superpower

Agree or Disagree?

I believe foreign intervention must be dictated only by a compelling national interest.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe the US should push for regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies.

Agree or Disagree?

I trace much of today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.

Agree or Disagree?

I oppose liberal immigration policies for the US.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe it is more important to be guided by practical considerations than ideological vision in US foreign policy.

Agree or Disagree?

I believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises.

Agree or Disagree?

I oppose international law, alliances, and agreements that would require the US to follow laws other than US laws.

Agree or Disagree?

Liberalism- wants growth in economic dependency, interdependence and international organizations, believes that domestic goals should match foreign goals (like being a world citizen vs a citizen of a country). Believes in a variable sum game, not concerned with relative gains, that conflict isn't necessary.

Liberals:● Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy ● Trace much of today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign

policies. ● Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions ● Believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises ● Oppose American imperialism● Support international law, alliances, and agreements ● Encourage US participation in the UN ● Believe US economic policies must help lift up the world's poor

Liberal

● Historical liberal: President Woodrow Wilson○ League of Nations - Post WWI

● Modern liberal: President Jimmy Carter○ Middle East Peace Process○ The Carter Center for the

Advancement of Human Rights and the Alleviation of Suffering

“Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope”

Liberal

Critics of Liberal Foreign Policy

International relations are mostly influenced by state's fiscal and military power, the world exist within a zero sum game, and that competition and conflict are natural and eternal. It believes that the role of the state is to better itself, they are concerned about relative power.

Realists:● Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision ● Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa ● Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical

considerations ● Believe strong alliances are important to US interests ● Weigh the political costs of foreign action ● Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national

interest

Realist

● Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower○ Commander of Allied Forces in

WWII○ President of US

■ Focus on Cold War Alliances ○ The “Eisenhower Doctrine” (1957)

■ US Military should be used "to secure and protect the territorial integrity and political independence of such nations, requesting such aid against overt armed aggression from any nation controlled by international communism."

● Modern realist:Colin Powell○ General - Gulf War Commander○ Secretary of State (GW Bush)

Realist

IsolationistThe term isolationist is most often used negatively; few people who share its beliefs use it to describe their own foreign policy perspective. They believe in "America first." For them, national sovereignty trumps international relations. Many unions, libertarians, and anti-globalization protesters share isolationist tenets.Isolationists:● Are wary of US involvement in the United Nations● Oppose international law, alliances, and agreements ● Believe the US should not act as a global cop ● Support trade practices that protect American workers ● Oppose liberal immigration ● Oppose American imperialism ● Desire to preserve what they see as America's national identity and

character

Historical isolationist: President Calvin Coolidge ● Post WWI President● The less involvement the better

○ Anti Immigrant○ European Imperialism & Nationalism built in 1920’s

as US watched fascism rise through 1930’s - leading to WWII

Modern isolationist:Ron Paul● Presidential Candidate - 88, 08, 12● “Non-Interventionist”

○ “we have no constitutional authority to police the world or involve ourselves in nation building, in making the world safe for our style of democracy. Our founders advised against it and the early presidents followed that advice. If we believe strongly in our ideals, the best way to spread them is to set a good example so that others will voluntarily emulate us. Force will not work. Besides, we do not have the money.”

Isolationist

Neoconservatives:● Want the US to be the world's unchallenged superpower ● Share unwavering support for Israel ● Support American unilateral action ● Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security ● Promote the development of an American empire ● Equate American power with the potential for world peace Seek to

democratize the world ● Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies

Neoconservative

● Historical neoconservative: President Teddy Roosevelt○ President - 1901-1909○ Spanish American War○ Central American Interventions

■ Panama

● Modern neoconservative: President Ronald Reagan○ President 1980-1988○ Arms Race - “Superpowers” of Cold

War○ Interventions

■ Grenada■ Nicaragua■ Iran■ Lebanon

Neoconservative