United States Flashcards
What is the basis of US foreign policy?
Interaction between realism and idealism
How does realism manifest itself?
Realism manifests itself in federation + constitution
How does idealism manifest itself?
Idealism manifests itself in overall FP of US, combination of enlightened ideals + democratisation
What is the result of this interaction between realism + idealism?
Strongly self-interested behaviour with a high degree of moralism
In what way can some policies have realist + idealist explanations?
Vietnam + Iraq contained realist concerns over security threats (Communism / WMD)
Also invoke idealist rhetoric over supporting free governments
What were President Wilson’s 14 points?
- Developed from his idealistic Wilsonian program
- Of spreading democracy + fighting militarism to prevent future wars
- Became basis of German Armistice
Who was the League of Nations founded by? Did he manage to get it through Senate?
Founded by Wilson
Fought to get treaty through Senate, but was refused
Yet his ideology has endured in US foreign policy
What is interventionism?
Intervene in conflicts to oppose oppression + promote democracy
What is isolationism?
Only use military force for defence
For the first 200 years of US history, what was the national policy?
For the first 200 years of US history, the national policy was isolationism and non-interventionism
As laid out by George Washington’s farewell address
How is this policy of isolationism exemplified in the first half of 20th Century?
- Senate’s refusal to join League of Nations
- US’ reluctance to become involved in WWII (Neutrality Acts 1935-39)
Why did the policy of isolationism come to an end?
- Ideological goals of fascist powers during WWII + growing aggression of Germany -> many Americans feared for the security of their nation
- Shared by realists ‘costs to high’ to be isolationist
- Thus call for end to US policy of isolationism
What was US FP characterised by after WWII?
- US FP characterised by interventionism
- US was directly involved in other states’ affairs
What was interventionist FP motivated by?
Motivated by containing influence of communism
Realism: system level = US wanted to check soviet expansion
Idealism: US wanted to counter Soviet Union for ideological reasons -> oppression of freedom in Eastern Europe
After the Cold War, what was US foreign policy under Bush 1 like?
- Bush 1 negotiated a peaceful end to Cold War
- But his diplomacy worked best in European, Cold War context
- US partly responsible for creating Hussein
- US highly moralistic language occurred w. Gulf War, Somalia, Panama (small powers)
- But not w. Germany + USSR (medium/great powers)
Suggests US only invokes idealist rhetoric w. weaker powers
What was US foreign policy like under Clinton?
- US involvement in military operations beyond traditional peacekeeping
- Very moralistic arguments in Haiti, Bosnia
- US used force to strike Iraq in 1993 + 1998 -> neither operation was supported by UN
What did George W Bush promise?
A rejection of Clinton era i.e. a return to isolationism
Why was George W Bush’s more conservative isolationist FP overturned?
- Conservative FP overturned by shock of 9/11
- Administration felt existentially vulnerable
What was the neoconservative influence on George W Bush’s FP?
- Neoconservatives = critical role in persuading Administration to launch preventative war against Iraq (2003)
- Their approach: exporting democracy + capitalism in response to security threat
- Interplay between realist security threat + idealist spreading of democracy
What was the One Percent Doctrine?
Even w. 1% chance of threat materialising, US should act to eliminate it
Under the Constitution, what are the two primary tasks of the President?
- Commander in Chief of Armed Forces (but war must be approved by Congress)
- Make treaties, appoint diplomats + other officers (must be approved by Senate)
The role has evolved + the President has become the dominant
How is the dominant role of the President reflected in Congress?
- Only Congress has power to declare war + provide funding, but no wars have been declared since WWII
- Congress can react against undeclared wars by cutting funds, but time consuming + slow to effect
How is the impotence of Congress reflected in the Vietnam War?
US able to commit over 1.5 million soldiers to war over a 15 year period without ever declaring war
How is the impotence of Congress reflected in the air strikes against Libya?
- Obama didn’t seek congressional authorisation for attacks on Libyan air defences in 2011
- Only after bombing started
- Obama sent Congress a letter
- As Commander in Chief he had constitutional authority for the attacks
- Justified by distinction between ‘limited military operation’ and ‘war’
