Foreign Policy 1991-Today

After the fall of the Soviet Union No common enemy for democratic world governments to focus on. No common enemy for democratic world governments to focus on. No focus for American foreign policy No focus for American foreign policy Soviet nuclear weapons spread to many unknown places Soviet nuclear weapons spread to many unknown places Since the Cold War targets of American foreign policy have been sporadic and inconsistent. Since the Cold War targets of American foreign policy have been sporadic and inconsistent.

Main Foreign Policy Issues 1. National Security: protection of a nation’s borders and territories against invasion  Military defense  Security of international economic interests

Main Foreign Policy Issues 2. International Security: creation of world stability  Facilitated through:  Alliances  Bilateral treaty: international agreement signed by two nations.  Multilateral treaties: international agreements signed by many nations

Main Foreign Policy Issues 3. Securing Democracy: The U.S. is safer if more countries are democracies. Officials are more accountable if they are elected Officials are more accountable if they are elected Democracies have free-markets which help to increase world trade Democracies have free-markets which help to increase world trade

Main Foreign Policy Issues 4. Foreign Aid: T o establish friendly relations and help nations emerge as eventual economic partners.  Humanitarian aid: used to increase the standard of living.  Development Assistance: used to develop a nations economic base and infrastructure.  Security Assistance: used to strengthen the armed forces of friendly governments.

Main Foreign Policy Issues 5. The Global Environment: solutions to problems such as, Ozone depletion, Acid Rain, Global Warming, Storing Nuclear Waste,  Environmental Treaties:  Earth Summit  Kyoto Protocol

Main Foreign Policy Issues 6. Weapons Non- Proliferation: stop the build up of arms Today’s concerns are over nuclear, chemical and biological weapons Today’s concerns are over nuclear, chemical and biological weapons Those who have them, have power Those who have them, have power Those who don’t, want them Those who don’t, want them Nuclear Non-proliferation: Trying to stop new countries from creating nuclear weapons so the world is safer. Nuclear Non-proliferation: Trying to stop new countries from creating nuclear weapons so the world is safer.

Main Foreign Policy Issues 7. International Trade: used to protect and support a nation’s economy or relationship with others. Usually promote free trade Usually promote free trade US is currently in a trade deficit: Import more then we export. US is currently in a trade deficit: Import more then we export. Protection Measures : try to restrict trade to protect American jobs. Protection Measures : try to restrict trade to protect American jobs.

Trade Tools Tools: Tariffs: taxes on imports that increase price of foreign goods Quotas: limits amount of specific import Subsidies: government economic support for certain industries (farming!) Anti-dumping rules: prohibit nations from selling below real-market value Embargoes: bans on trade used to change a nation’s behavior (Cuba) Agreements: used between friendly countries to reduce trade barriers

Trade Blocs NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement European Union European Union CAFTA - Central American Free Trade Agreement. This is in process and has not been completed CAFTA - Central American Free Trade Agreement. This is in process and has not been completed

Tools to achieve goals Diplomacy – meetings with other heads of state to reach an agreement Aid: give or deny aid to coerce a country to follow certain rules. Sanctions: withdrawal or denial of benefits to force a country to comply. can include trade restrictions, denial of arms, loans and economic aid Ex. Sanction imposed on North Korea Military Force: use of armed troops to achieve a certain foreign policy goal Can be full declaration of war to police/peacekeeping forces. Can be used as intimidation (building up forces on the coast.)