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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2. Foreign Policy
Module Overview

3. Defining foreign policy
Foreign policy is the goals that a state’s officials seek to attain abroad, the values that give rise to those objectives, and the means or instruments used to pursue them.
Foreign vs. domestic policy: foreign policy is externally focused, whereas domestic policy sets strategies internal to the United States.

4. Objectives of U.S. foreign policy
the protection of the U.S. and its citizens
the maintenance of access to key resources and markets
the preservation of a balance of power in the world
the protection of human rights and democracy

5. Types of foreign policy
trade
diplomacy
sanctions
military or defense
intelligence
foreign aid
global environmental policy

6. Challenges in foreign policy
There is no true world-level authority dictating how the nations of the world should relate to one another.
Different countries have different views about the role of government in people’s lives.
Different countries have varying ideas about the appropriate form of government.
Many new foreign policy issues transcend borders.
Varying conditions of the different countries in the world affect what is possible in foreign policy and diplomatic relations.

7. Broadly focused U.S. foreign policy
Broadly focused foreign policy outputs typically bring more involvement from Congress and other world leaders. They often require large-scale spending and take a long time to implement. These policy outputs can be:
public laws
the periodic reauthorization of the foreign policy agencies
the foreign policy budget
international agreements
the appointment process for new executive officials and ambassadors

8. Sharply focused U.S. foreign policy
Sharply focused foreign policy outputs are faster, tend to be led by the president, and are easier for future policymakers to undo. These policy outputs can be:
the deployment of troops and/or intelligence agents in a crisis
the presidential summit
the passage of an emergency funding measure for a specific national security task

9. Role of Congress in foreign policy, part 1
In broadly focused foreign policy outputs:
Congress enacts public laws which affect more than a single individual.
The War Powers Resolution (1973) was Congress's attempt to reinsert itself in war-making; the president needs congressional approval to continue any military campaign beyond 60 days.
Foreign policy and defense budgets are parts of the discretionary budget, the section of the national budget that Congress vets and decides on each year.

10. Role of Congress in foreign policy, part 2
In sharply focused foreign policy outputs:
Emergency spending does involve Congress through its power of the purse.
Congress usually gives presidents what is needed to deal with emergencies.
Congress usually passes at least one emergency spending measure per year that needs to be signed by the president, often providing funding for natural disasters.

11. Shared power in foreign policymaking
Presidents are more empowered by the Constitution in foreign than in domestic policy, but nonetheless must seek approval from Congress on a variety of matters.
Most foreign policy instruments require inter-branch approval to go into effect.
Presidents lead, to be sure, but they must consult with and engage Congress on many matters of foreign policy; ignoring this might make matters more difficult.
Shared power creates an incentive for the branches to cooperate.

12. Leading role of the president in foreign policy
Presidents lead more in foreign policy than in domestic policy.
The Constitution names the president as the commander in chief of the military, the nominating authority for executive officials and ambassadors, and the initial negotiator of foreign agreements and treaties.
The president is the agenda-setter for foreign policy and may move unilaterally in some instances.
Presidents were gradually given more authority to enter into international agreements without Senate consent by using the executive agreement.

13. Foreign policy among House and Senate members
Individual House and Senate members rarely venture into foreign policy.
Their focus is on domestic matters because there is not much to be gained with their constituents by pursuing foreign policy matters.
They must be responsive to their constituents in order to be good representatives and to achieve re-election.

14. Actors engaging in foreign policy
U.S. foreign policy may be carried out by:
president and vice president
chief of staff
secretary of state, secretary of defense, and secretary of homeland security
national security advisor
U.S. trade representative
chair, joint chiefs of staff
director of national intelligence (to whom the CIA director reports)

15. U.S. foreign policy: classic schools of thought
The classic schools of thought are:
isolationism
the idealism vs. realism debate
liberal internationalism
hard vs. soft power
the grand strategy of U.S. foreign policy

16. U.S. foreign policy: contemporary schools of thought
The contemporary schools of thought are:
neo-conservatism
neo-isolationism
selective engagement

17. How to study for this course
Read the syllabus or schedule of assignments regularly.
Understand key terms; look up and define all unfamiliar words and terms.
Take notes on your readings, assigned media, and lectures.
Discuss topics with classmates.
Review your notes routinely.
Make flow charts and outlines from your notes to help you study for assessments.
Complete all course assessments.

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