THEMES, Atlande, Foreign policy Flashcards
21st century changes
- after 1991 victory: US as a “super-power”
- now world domination in all attributes of power (economic, military, diplomatic, cultural…): BRICS
- to put an end to unipolarity?
Speech on foreign relations, Chicago in 2007
“A New Beginning”
“Instead of having more Americans serving in military bands than the diplomatic corps, we need to grow our foreign policy service. Instead of retreating from the world, I will personally lead a new chapter of American engagement.”
Obama’s obective
- after Bush
- restore American leadership through a US practice of foreign relations // value ideals exemplified by American history
- “smart-power”
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel committee embraced the messenger for “his extraordinary efforts to streghten international diplomcy and cooperation between peoples.”
The Clinton Administrations
- framework for a new Democratic foreign policy identity in the immediate East-West reconciliation era
- UN Ambassador to the UN, then Secretary of State: Madeleine Albright’s visions in the “3Ds”
Redefinition of American foreign policy was imperative
- after the Cold War
- identity crisis after 9/11
- “dirty war” in Irak
- 2007-2008 financial crisis
Obama’s projection in 2008
Skowronek
- modern networks of global communication
- his persona
- his rhetoric (and the charm of the family)
- rised hope in military de-escalation and diplomatic reconciliation
- election proved performative: it generated positive anticipation and a break from the past
“Smart-power”
- introduced in 2004 by Suzanne Nossel
- “the smart use of power is needed to promote U.S. interests through a stable grid of allies, institutions, and norms”
- nonetheless, the administration emphasized har power military preparedness by augmenting the Pentagon’s capacity to respond to multiple simultaneous crises + inflating defense budgets (campaign promise of cost reduction)
State Department Quadrennial for Diplomacy and Develoment (QDDR)
- december 2010
- “21st century statecraft” addressed the integrated and interdependent diplomatic issues of globalization
- gouvernance politique pour le 21è siècle
- energy and environment
- security and counterterrorism
- health and education
- …
Unilateralism
- GW Bush’s unilateral War in Irak
- Vietnam War
- national interest irreconcilable with its allies
- Obama’s choice to go back to multilateralism
Obama’s style
- political realism
- humanist universal ideals
- “whole-of-government” approach: joint activities performed by diverse Ministries, Public Administrations and Public Agencies in order to provide a common solution to a particular problems or issues // une approche qui implique l’ensemble des rouages de l’État
United States Agency for International Development
- people-to-people program
- education
- gender equality
- green jobs
- community organization
- economic and technological development
Social networks and e-governance
- to empower citizen participation to inspire democratic transitions
- State Department’s digital division designed to “amplify our messaging across a waide range of platforms”, Clinton’s memoirs
Pax Americana
American peace —used for the period of relative tranquility from circa 1945 to the present day in regions to which U.S. power has extended.
Responsibility to Protect
R2P
- defined by the UN in 2005
- embodies the UN Security Council prevent the worst forms of violence and persecution from happening
