WS-3 US Policy Flashcards
Define foreign policy.
Concerns about the projection of national power, survival, and the wellbeing of the state, as well as military capabilities; to protect the nation from external threats and to create an environment that enhances the United States’ ability to achieve our national interests
Describe the three groups that form public opinion.
Uninformed public - more than three-quarters of the population; doesn’t seek information about foreign affairs; does not form opinions consistently unless own interests are directly affected by events (war), event receives wide publicity (Iranian hostage crisis), or efforts are made to mobilize it.
Informed public – one fifth of population; citizens who regularly keep up with, and form, opinions about foreign affairs and national security policy
Effective public – less than 5%; actively seeks to influence policy; actively put forward and advocate various policy alternatives
Identify the main ideas of our foreign policies from 1776 to the present.
Isolationism - neutrality and nonentanglement, including a policy of freedom for commerce; pronouncement of neutrality and the right to trade with belligerent states; Monroe Doctrine (American Continents no longer to be considered objects for future colonization by European powers; any attempt to interfere with countries of Western Hemisphere that had declared independence would be considered a threat to US security)
Imperialism – Hawaii, Samoa and Panama Canal
Pacifism - attitude or policy of nonresistance; failed to secure disarmament by agreement, moved to disarmament by example to show good intentions
UN Cooperation
Containment - halt Soviet territorial expansion
Identify the main ideas of each of our deterrent strategies.
Massive Retaliation Strategy – US nuclear arsenal; maintaining strategic superiority and a technological edge; use nuclear weapons “at a time and place of our choosing “to protect our national interests
Graduated Response Strategy - placed tactical nukes around the Sino-Soviet perimeter to counter a large conventional attack; allied with japan
Flexible Response Strategy – United States must be capable of responding to any level of conflict—from a nuclear engagement to a small crisis
Realistic Deterrence Strategy - United States widened its nuclear umbrella and offered assistance to those in need (Security Assistance Program); would not supply the majority of personnel if a conflict erupted, only hardware and economic aid
Contemporary Containment Strategy - rebuild US military forces and put an end to inaction against the advances of communism; declaring worthy all armed resistance to communism; prevent troubled Third World countries from turning to the Soviets by being more involved in the Security Assistance Program, helping these countries recover without Communist influence.
