Interpreting US Foreign Policy (I). Why Study US Foreign Policy? Why Study US Foreign Policy? Security threats to the US Global weapon proliferation

Interpreting US Foreign Interpreting US Foreign Policy (I)Policy (I)

Why Study US Foreign Policy?Why Study US Foreign Policy?

Security threats to the USSecurity threats to the US Global weapon proliferationGlobal weapon proliferation

• WMD & terrorist groupsWMD & terrorist groups• WMD & rouge statesWMD & rouge states• Disease of Mass Destruction (DMD)Disease of Mass Destruction (DMD)

SARSSARS Avian Influenza Avian Influenza

Threats are real at homeThreats are real at home• 1993 World Trade Center bombing1993 World Trade Center bombing• 2001 Terrorist attacks2001 Terrorist attacks

Security threats affect daily lives of AmericansSecurity threats affect daily lives of Americans• Enhanced security check at airportEnhanced security check at airport• Potential impact on civil libertiesPotential impact on civil liberties


Economic InterdependenceEconomic Interdependence Increasing share of GDP from foreign tradeIncreasing share of GDP from foreign trade

• > 10% in 1960> 10% in 1960• > 25% in 2006> 25% in 2006

Int’l division of labor & US employmentInt’l division of labor & US employment• Outsourcing productionOutsourcing production• Dependence on foreign consumer goodsDependence on foreign consumer goods

Foreign currency exchange ratesForeign currency exchange rates• Trade deficits & undervalued foreign currencyTrade deficits & undervalued foreign currency

Foreign investmentForeign investment• FDI (foreign direct investment) & growthFDI (foreign direct investment) & growth• Growth rate & employmentGrowth rate & employment


US & Global SocietyUS & Global Society Foreign domestic politics impact USAForeign domestic politics impact USA

• Foreign environmental mismanagementForeign environmental mismanagement China’s desertification & sand stormChina’s desertification & sand storm

• Foreign wildlife mismanagementForeign wildlife mismanagement China’s wildlife survival crisis & SARSChina’s wildlife survival crisis & SARS

• Foreign farm animal welfare crisisForeign farm animal welfare crisis Threat of global spread of avian influenzaThreat of global spread of avian influenza

• Poverty & immigration issuePoverty & immigration issue Border security & relations with MexicoBorder security & relations with Mexico


Ethnic diversity of American societyEthnic diversity of American society Foreign born Americans & their ethnic cultureForeign born Americans & their ethnic culture

• ““Little Italy,” “Little Havana,” “China Town” Little Italy,” “Little Havana,” “China Town” • Foreign culture impact mainstream lifeForeign culture impact mainstream life

Foreign cuisine impacts American eating habitForeign cuisine impacts American eating habit Foreign arts & cultural products infiltrate American societyForeign arts & cultural products infiltrate American society

• Jackie Chen & Chinese martial artsJackie Chen & Chinese martial arts• Pokemon cards, hello kitty & American youthPokemon cards, hello kitty & American youth

• Understanding foreign culture = understanding own Understanding foreign culture = understanding own cultureculture


US Preeminence in World PoliticsUS Preeminence in World Politics Only superpower Only superpower

• Enormous political influenceEnormous political influence American democracy serves to inspire …American democracy serves to inspire …

• Superior military capabilitySuperior military capability Global presence and global reachGlobal presence and global reach

• Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina • Japan, South Korea, Germany, Cuba, … Japan, South Korea, Germany, Cuba, …

• Extensive diplomatic engagementExtensive diplomatic engagement North Korea, Iran & weapons proliferation issueNorth Korea, Iran & weapons proliferation issue Israel-Palestine conflictIsrael-Palestine conflict

• Economic mightEconomic might China rising on ferocious American appetite for Chinese China rising on ferocious American appetite for Chinese

goodsgoods


US Preeminence in World PoliticsUS Preeminence in World Politics Only superpower Only superpower

• Economic mightEconomic might China rising on ferocious American appetite for Chinese China rising on ferocious American appetite for Chinese

goodsgoods American tourists enrich Caribbean & other destinationsAmerican tourists enrich Caribbean & other destinations Popularity of American products overseasPopularity of American products overseas

• American cigarettes, cars, McDonalds, KFC, Coca-American cigarettes, cars, McDonalds, KFC, Coca-cola cola

American citizens & foreign policyAmerican citizens & foreign policy Informed citizens exert influence viaInformed citizens exert influence via

• ElectionsElections• Lobbying, protest, demonstrations, … Lobbying, protest, demonstrations, …


US Moral ObligationsUS Moral Obligations Human tragedies remain around the worldHuman tragedies remain around the world

• Human rights violationHuman rights violation• Murder as a policy tool in the Balkans Murder as a policy tool in the Balkans • Genocide & mass starvationGenocide & mass starvation

Informed citizens help US respond to global Informed citizens help US respond to global humanitarian crisishumanitarian crisis

Interpreting US Foreign PolicyInterpreting US Foreign Policy

Objectives of US Foreign PolicyObjectives of US Foreign Policy Foreign policies are made in the name of Foreign policies are made in the name of

national interestnational interest Four core goals/elements of national interest Four core goals/elements of national interest

(the “4 Ps” framework)(the “4 Ps” framework)• PowerPower• PeacePeace• ProsperityProsperity• Principles Principles

A particular policy can be seen to pursue one, several or all A particular policy can be seen to pursue one, several or all of the “Ps.” of the “Ps.”


Power as the objectivePower as the objective A most basic goal since power :A most basic goal since power :

• Is key to a strong defense and credible deterrenceIs key to a strong defense and credible deterrence• Enhances influence over other actorsEnhances influence over other actors• Advances own interest and aggressiveness.Advances own interest and aggressiveness.

Realists perceptionRealists perception• ““International politics is a struggle for power.”International politics is a struggle for power.”• Competition and conflicts are constantCompetition and conflicts are constant• Cooperation among states is limitedCooperation among states is limited• The world is a self-help system; it is “jungle” The world is a self-help system; it is “jungle” • States pursue power enlargement for survival. States pursue power enlargement for survival.


Power as the objectivePower as the objective Realists perceptionRealists perception Indicators of a realist foreign policyIndicators of a realist foreign policy

• Coercive diplomacyCoercive diplomacy• Big military spendingBig military spending• alliance against a mutual enemyalliance against a mutual enemy

Peace as the objectivePeace as the objective Perception of International institutionalismPerception of International institutionalism

• World politics is “a cultivable ‘garden’”World politics is “a cultivable ‘garden’”• Cooperation is possible and reduces tensions.Cooperation is possible and reduces tensions.• Diplomacy works better than military meansDiplomacy works better than military means• International institutions serve to sustain cooperationInternational institutions serve to sustain cooperation


Peace as the objectivePeace as the objective Perception of International institutionalismPerception of International institutionalism

• Anarchy cannot be eliminated; but can be tempered or Anarchy cannot be eliminated; but can be tempered or regulated via int’l organizations, negotiations, treaties.regulated via int’l organizations, negotiations, treaties.

Indicators of a peace-oriented policyIndicators of a peace-oriented policy• Acting as “peace broker”Acting as “peace broker”

““shuttle diplomacy” in the Mideast by Dr. Kissinger shuttle diplomacy” in the Mideast by Dr. Kissinger The Camp David accord between Egypt and Israel in 1978The Camp David accord between Egypt and Israel in 1978 The 1995 Dayton accord ending the war in BosniaThe 1995 Dayton accord ending the war in Bosnia

• Diplomacy over military meansDiplomacy over military means US participation in the “six-party” talk on North KoreaUS participation in the “six-party” talk on North Korea


Prosperity as the objectiveProsperity as the objectiveTwo schools of thoughtTwo schools of thought Capitalist free trade economic thinkingCapitalist free trade economic thinking

Foreign policy:Foreign policy:• serves the general economic interest of the nationserves the general economic interest of the nation• Strives for a favorable balance of tradeStrives for a favorable balance of trade• Pursues a strong growthPursues a strong growth• Maintains a healthy macro economyMaintains a healthy macro economy

Reflections in foreign policy:Reflections in foreign policy:• Granting of most favored nation statusGranting of most favored nation status• Support of free tradeSupport of free trade

Interpreting US Foreign PolicyInterpreting US Foreign Policy Prosperity as the objectiveProsperity as the objective

Two schools of thoughtTwo schools of thought Capitalist free trade economic thinkingCapitalist free trade economic thinking

Reflections in foreign policyReflections in foreign policy• Signing int’l agreements related to int’l tradeSigning int’l agreements related to int’l trade• Supporting int’l econ organizations, e.g., GATT, IMF, Supporting int’l econ organizations, e.g., GATT, IMF,

WTOWTO Theories of imperialism & neo-colonialismTheories of imperialism & neo-colonialism

• US foreign policy:US foreign policy: Serves the parochial interest of the rich such asServes the parochial interest of the rich such as

• Multinational corporations and banksMultinational corporations and banks Continues domination of the less developed nations thru Continues domination of the less developed nations thru

economic means economic means

Interpreting US Foreign PolicyInterpreting US Foreign Policy Principles as the objectivePrinciples as the objective

This goal involves the values, ideals, and beliefs that the US This goal involves the values, ideals, and beliefs that the US has claimed to stand for in the world.has claimed to stand for in the world.

The perception of The perception of democratic idealismdemocratic idealism• ““Right” should always stand above “might” as a policy choice Right” should always stand above “might” as a policy choice

since America is morally unique and “exceptional”since America is morally unique and “exceptional”• Promoting democracy around the world serves the interest of Promoting democracy around the world serves the interest of

promoting peace because democracies do not fight among promoting peace because democracies do not fight among themselvesthemselves

Indications of a principle-oriented policyIndications of a principle-oriented policy• Ascendance of human rights as a policy factorAscendance of human rights as a policy factor• Sanctions imposed on Communist statesSanctions imposed on Communist states

Interpreting US Foreign PolicyInterpreting US Foreign Policy ““4 Ps” & Interpretation: A Case4 Ps” & Interpretation: A Case

American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)See handout 1. See handout 1. Interpreting US Iran policy objectiveInterpreting US Iran policy objective

1. Pursuit of 1. Pursuit of PowerPower Iranian oil needed to sustain American economic Iranian oil needed to sustain American economic

powerpower Alliance with Iran enhanced US power in Cold War Alliance with Iran enhanced US power in Cold War

yearsyears US support of the Shah ensured American US support of the Shah ensured American

influence & presence in the Persian Gulf regioninfluence & presence in the Persian Gulf regionThe US was strategically superior in Mideast to The US was strategically superior in Mideast to

USSR. USSR.



1.1. Pursuit of Pursuit of PeacePeace1.1. US intervention was necessary to stabilize Iran & US intervention was necessary to stabilize Iran &

Mideast.Mideast.2.2. Intimate relations with US deterred Soviet Intimate relations with US deterred Soviet

aggression in Iran and Mideast.aggression in Iran and Mideast.3.3. When Mideast was stable, USSR had no reason When Mideast was stable, USSR had no reason

to disrupt peace in that region.to disrupt peace in that region.A stable Mideast served the interest of peace A stable Mideast served the interest of peace

between the two major military blocks.between the two major military blocks.


American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)See handout 1. See handout 1.

Interpreting US Iran policy objectiveInterpreting US Iran policy objective

1.1. Pursuit of Pursuit of ProsperityProsperity (I) (I)1.1. US prosperity requires extensive foreign economic US prosperity requires extensive foreign economic

relationsrelations

2.2. Increasing consumption of foreign raw materials Increasing consumption of foreign raw materials calls for stable trade relationscalls for stable trade relations

3.3. Iranian oil helps fuel sustained growth in the USIranian oil helps fuel sustained growth in the US

American prosperity benefits the entire society.American prosperity benefits the entire society.


American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)See handout 1. See handout 1.

Interpreting US Iran policy objectiveInterpreting US Iran policy objective

1.1. Pursuit of Pursuit of ProsperityProsperity (II) (II)1.1. US-Iranian ties only benefited the rich & the US-Iranian ties only benefited the rich & the

multinational corporationsmultinational corporations

2.2. Like ties to other developing nations, US-Iranian Like ties to other developing nations, US-Iranian relations served to sustain inequality between relations served to sustain inequality between North & SouthNorth & South

US Iranian policy sharpens the conflicts between the US Iranian policy sharpens the conflicts between the rich & the poor in the US and in the world.rich & the poor in the US and in the world.



1.1. Pursuit of Pursuit of PrinciplesPrinciples1.1. US Iran policy aimed to fulfill America’s US Iran policy aimed to fulfill America’s

commitment to democracy around the world.commitment to democracy around the world.2.2. Intimate relations opened Iran to American values Intimate relations opened Iran to American values

of democracy, equality and civil liberties.of democracy, equality and civil liberties.3.3. US presence in Mideast works best for political & US presence in Mideast works best for political &

social change in this conservative region. social change in this conservative region. 4.4. Iran could move from adopting Western lifestyle to Iran could move from adopting Western lifestyle to

embracing Western institutions.embracing Western institutions.

Interpreting US Foreign PolicyInterpreting US Foreign Policy ““4 Ps” & Interpretation: A Case4 Ps” & Interpretation: A Case Group Project 1: Group Project 1: Interpreting US Operation in Interpreting US Operation in

Afghanistan (See handout 2 on my webpage)Afghanistan (See handout 2 on my webpage)

Documents

Interpreting US Foreign Policy (I). Why Study US Foreign Policy? Why Study US Foreign Policy? Security threats to the US Global weapon proliferation