Foreign Policy GOVT 2305. Module 16

Foreign Policy Public policy that concerns the relationship of the United States to the international political environment.

The International Community

Nation-States A nation-state is a political community, occupying a definite territory, and having an organized government. Other nations recognize its independence and respect the right of its government to exercise authority within its boundaries free from external interference. Today, more than 190 countries comprise the world community of nations.

Diplomatic Relations The United States has diplomatic relations with almost all of the world's nations. The term diplomatic relations refers to a system of official contacts between two nations in which the countries exchange ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel and operate embassies in each other's country. Who is this guy? Why is his picture here? With which countries does the United States not have diplomatic relations? Iran, North Korea, and Taiwan

United Nations (UN) More than a hundred transnational (or multinational) organizations are active on the international scene. The best known of these is the United Nations (UN), which is an international organization founded in 1945 as a diplomatic forum to resolve conflicts among the world's nations.

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is an international organization created to control disease worldwide. It is a UN organization.

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance consisting of the United States, Canada, and most European democracies. The United States and its allies formed NATO after World War II to defend against the threat of a Soviet attack in Western Europe. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has expanded to include some of the nations that were once part of the Soviet bloc. NATO is now a western military alliance. It conducts operations in Afghanistan and enforced a no-fly zone in Libya.

World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that administers trade laws, and provides a forum for settling trade disputes among nations. It promotes international trade by sponsoring negotiations to reduce tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods, and other barriers to trade.

International Monetary Fund The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization created to promote economic stability worldwide. It provides loans to nations facing economic crises, usually on the condition that they adopt and implement reforms designed to bring long-term economic stability.

NGOs Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are international organizations committed to the promotion of a particular set of issues. Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Nature Conservancy are NGOs that address environmental issues.

More NGOs Save the Children is an NGO concerned with the welfare of children. The International Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders work in partnership with national governments to assist the victims of natural disasters or political turmoil. Al Qaeda is an NGO. What is al-Qaeda? A terrorist organization

Goals of American Foreign and Defense Policy

Goals 1: National Security The foremost goal of American foreign and defense policies is national security. If Iran developed nuclear weapons, would that threaten American national security? How?

Goal 2: National Prosperity Because the American economy is closely entwined with the global economy, it is essential to the nation's economic health that the United States has access both to foreign suppliers of goods and services and to foreign markets for American products. Do the events in the Middle East potentially impact nation’s economy?

U.S. Oil Imports

Goal 3: Promotion of American Values Abroad Many of the nation's foreign policies today are designed to further the causes of democracy, free-market capitalism, and human rights. Is it in America’s interest to promote democracy in the Middle East?

Means for Achieving Goals

Means 1: Military Means Use of force, such as air strikes in Syria and Iraq Provision of arms and military advisors, as in Iraq and Syria Military alliances, such as NATO Sale of arms to countries around the world

Means 2: Economic Means Trade Trade sanctions, such as those against Iran or the trade embargo against Cuba Foreign aid assistance to other countries, such as Iraq and Afghanistan

Means 3: Cultural Means Tourism Student exchanges Goodwill tours International athletic events

Means 4: Diplomacy Diplomatic recognition Travel by heads of state Negotiations Treaties Executive agreements

Foreign Policy Issues

Nuclear Proliferation

Syria The United States wants to see the Assad government go. It supports relatively moderate opponents and opposes ISIS. We are using air power and diplomacy to exert influence.

What You Have Learned What is foreign policy? What is the unilateralist approach to foreign policy? What is the internationalist approach to foreign policy? How does the Obama foreign policy compare and contrast with the Bush foreign policy?

Global Warming