Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 Chapter 17 Foreign and Defense Policymaking American Government: Policy & Politics, Eighth Edition TANNAHILL

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 In This Chapter We Will Cover: The history of American foreign policy The international community The means and ends of American foreign and defense policy American foreign policy after 9/11 American defense policy

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The History of American Foreign Policy Periods of U.S. Foreign Policy –From Isolationism to Internationalism For most of the first century of the nation’s history, the U.S. avoided what President Washington called “entangling alliances.” –Monroe Doctrine –World War I –World War II

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The History of American Foreign Policy –The Cold War and the Policy of Containment The relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union was the dominant element of American foreign policy after World War II. –The Marshall Plan –Containment –The Truman Doctrine

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The History of American Foreign Policy –Détente In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the two superpowers entered an era of improved relations known as Détente. –Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) 1969 –Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty 1972

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The History of American Foreign Policy –American Foreign Policy in the 1970s: Recognition of Limits The Nixon Doctrine declared that although the United States would help small nations threatened by communist aggression with economic and military aid, those countries must play a major role in their own defense.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The History of American Foreign Policy –American Foreign Policy in the 1980s: A Resurgent America The Reagan Doctrine called for the United States to offer military aid to groups attempting to overthrow communist governments anywhere in the world.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The History of American Foreign Policy –The Disintegration of the Soviet Union and the End of the Cold War In the late 1980s, a new Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, recognized that the Soviet system was failing. He responded with bold economic and political reforms. –Perestroika –Glasnost

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The International Community The nation-state is a political community, occupying a definite territory, and having an organized government. 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.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The International Community The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945 as a diplomatic forum to resolve conflicts among the world’s nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) is an international organization created to control disease worldwide.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The International Community The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization created to promote economic stability worldwide. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that administers trade laws and provides a forum for settling trade disputes among nations.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The International Community The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a regional military alliance consisting of the United Sates, Canada, and most of the European democracies.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The International Community The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in an international accord among the Unites States, Mexico, and Canada to lower trade barriers among the three nations.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The Ends and Means of American Foreign and Defense Policy Ends –The United States has consistently pursued three foreign and defense policy goals throughout its history: national security, economic prosperity, and the projection of American values abroad.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 The Ends and Means of American Foreign and Defense Policy Means –The United States attempts to achieve foreign policy goals through the use of military force, economic, diplomatic, and cultural means.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 American Foreign Policy After 9/11 The United States: is the world’s “indispensable nation” (M. Albright). Internationalist versus unilateralist views

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 American Defense Policy Defense Spending –In general, defense spending rises during wartime and falls during peacetime.

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 Defense Spending as Percentage of GDP

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 Defense Forces and Strategy Strategic (nuclear) and conventional (non-nuclear) forces Strategic forces –MAD - mutual assured destruction –National Missile Defense (NMD) System Conventional forces –1.4 million troops in uniform –Substitute firepower for manpower?

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 U.S. Military Personnel

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 Concluding Review Questions What are the arguments for and against the policy of preemption? What are the most important themes in the history of American foreign policy? How has the environment for American foreign and defense policymaking changed since the end of the Cold War?

Pearson Education, Inc., Longman © 2006 Concluding Review Questions What are the four principle means through which the United States has pursued its foreign policy goals? What factor has the greatest impact on changes in defense spending relative to the overall economy? What impact have the events of September 11, 2001 and the war in Iraq and the following occupation had on American defense policy?