Foreign Policy Flashcards
What is Neo-realism?
Assumption that the world is anarchic, no world government
This means key actors are large and powerful states
It’s the relationship between these states that shape world politics
What is Neo-liberalism?
V similar to Neo-realism but slightly more optimistic
The effects of anarchy can be limited by these large states cooperating
What is the idea of exceptionalism?
Idea US was founded on basis of a set of ideas
Made US different to other countries, people from all over the world could be part of this
What was said in Washington’s farewell address?
1796
US should be wary of getting involved with the affairs of the Old World, should refrain from alliances with them
Could be a call for isolationism
What was the westward expansion?
Throughout the 19th century
Involved centuries long process of expanding the US, included conflict with those that were already there before the US
Louisiana Purchase of 1803
What was the Louisiana Purchase?
1803
Saw Thomas Jefferson authorising the purchase of the Louisiana Territories from the French without consulting Congress
What was the Monroe Doctrine?
1823
James Monroe signed stating that the US would oppose any further European colonisation in the western hemisphere
What was the Roosevelt Corollary?
1904
Theodore Roosevelt wanted to take Monroe Doctrine one step further
The US now acted as the ‘hemispheric policeman’
US started to think of its position as a global power
Why was WWI important from a global standpoint?
The US went against the advice to not get involved in the old world
4.7 million US soldiers fought in WWI
116,000 died
What were the Neutrality Acts?
Between 1935-37 Congress passed 3 neutrality acts that tried to keep the US out of war by making it illegal for Americans to sell or transport war materials to hostile nations.
What was the lend-lease programme?
Introduced by FDR in 1941
Idea that the US would lend rather than sell weapons to aid any nation deemed vital to the defence of the US
US became indirectly involved in WWII whilst officially remaining neutral
The US at the start of the Cold War
Traditional European powers were destroyed after WWII
The power vacuum was filled with the US and the USSR
What was the Truman Doctrine?
1947
The US would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat of communism
What did the National Security Act establish?
Under Truman in 1947
Established the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency
In response to Soviet threats
When and why was NATO created?
1949
Based on the idea of collective security, a warning shot to USSR
