US Foreign Policy PDF

**US FOREIGN POLICY** **WHAT IS AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY:** Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to the US foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent...

**US FOREIGN POLICY** **WHAT IS AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY:** Promoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to the US foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago (Bill of Rights, Constitution, Declaration of Independence). \*Though they are not implementing it at all (mostly regarding human rights). MAIN GOALS: - Security defense (military interests) - Prosperity their own prosperity and pushing for international trade. Promoting FDI and lowering the prices of American consumers (that doesn´t mean economic prosperity for other countries) - The creation of a better world the promotion of American values. International humanitarian policies to make the world a better place. **SECURITY:** The protection of America´s interests and citizens, is a perennial concern, but America has tried to achieve security in different ways throughout its long history. In the 19^th^ century, American foreign policy was dominated by policy known as [Isolationism], wherein America sought to avoid involvement in the affairs of other nations. During the 20^th^ century, 2 world wars and a subsequent Cold War changed the calculations behind American foreign policy. Necessarily engaged with the world, America turned from isolationism to a more proactive policy of deterrence, wherein the nation would maintain a strong military in order to discourage foreign attacks. Foreign policy changed again at the end of the 20^th^ century and the beginning of the 21^st^ century when the demise of the Soviet Union decreased the relevance of deterrence and the new threats of rogue states and terrorism caused the George W. Bush administration to shift to a policy of [preemption] (a willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack). **ECONOMIC PROSPERITY:** Accomplished mostly through trade policy. - Expanding employment in the US - Maintaining access to foreign energy supplies - Promoting foreign investment in the US - Lowering prices for American consumers **PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN POLICIES:** Promoting international humanitarian policies in ways that make the world a better place. - Promoting international environmental policies - Advocating for human rights - Keeping peace between nations **WHO MAKES AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY:** The president and his top advisers are the principal architects of US foreign policy, though other actors (Congress, the courts, parties, interest groups and trade associations) are also important to foreign policy making. The president shapes much of foreign policy: - It is the commander-in-chief, who negotiates treaties and receives foreign ambassadors, nominates America´s ambassadors to other countries and enters into executive agreements - He dominates foreign policy making. \*Other than the president, the influence of the players varies by issue. During times of crisis, presidential dominance is even greater and decision making involves the fewest players. **The foreign policy bureaucracy**: departments of State, Defense, Treasury and Homeland Security, along with the Joint Chiefs, the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency. The heads of these departments and agencies serve as key foreign policy advisers to presidents. Since 9/11, these institutional actors have played increasingly prominent roles in American foreign policy making. **Interest groups** (economic, ethnic or national-origin, and human rights and "green" groups) are increasingly important players in foreign policy making. **INSTRUMENTS OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY:** **Diplomacy** is the representation of a government to other foreign governments to promote national values or interests by peaceful means. Although Rogers Act of 1924 established the initial framework for a professional foreign service staff in America, it was not until World War II and the Foreign Service Act of 1946 that America developed professionalized diplomatic corps. Given the high stakes of foreign policy and the president´s clear responsibility for success or failure, many presidents are reluctant to entrust major responsibilities to diplomats in the State Department. \*In 2008, both parties´ presidential candidates criticized the Bush administration for failing in the area of international diplomacy. **THROUGH INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION:** **The United Nations** (organization of nations founded in 1945) serves as an institutional channel for negotiation and a means of settling international disputes peaceably. - [UN General Assembly:] supreme body of the organization. It consists of one representative of each of the 192 member states - [UN Security Council:] executive committee of the UN. \*The USA is a permanent member The UN can be a useful forum for international discussions and multilateral action. **The International Monetary Structure** (World Bank and International Monetary Fund) were created in 1944 to stabilize the world economy mostly by providing loans to countries. **THROUGHOUT MILITARY FORCE:** After World War II, the US stepped up efforts to engage in collective security agreements with other countries multilateral treaties (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and bilateral treaties with individual countries are employed to solidify relationships and maintain security. Military force is the most visible instrument of foreign policy, and the US now has a large, prepared standing military and a massive build-up of weaponry, both of which it uses to deter foreign attacks and otherwise influence international outcomes. **THROUGHOUT ASSISTANCE:** Through economic and the use of economic sanctions, the US affects the actions of other countries by providing incentives to encourage some types of behavior and disincentives to dissuade countries from engaging in undesirable behavior. Yet the actions of numerous presidents are difficult to explain aside from such motivations, and these contradictions may diminish America´s ability to derive power in the world system through adherence to its historic ideals. **THE USA DEPARTMENT OF STATE:** It manages America´s relationships with foreign governments, international organizations and the people of other countries. The management of all of these relationships **diplomacy.** State Department diplomats carry out the President´s foreign policy and help build a freer, more prosperous and secure world. \*The control of the Red Bottom president. The State Department is a vital part of the US Government because: - Represents the US overseas and conveys US policies to foreign governments and international organizations through American embassies and consulates in foreign countries and diplomatic missions - Negotiates and concludes agreements and treaties on issues ranging from trade to nuclear weapons - Coordinates and supports international activities of other US agencies, hosts official visits and performs other diplomatic missions - Leads interagency coordination and manages the allocation of resources for foreign relations - Promotes mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world MAIN GOALS: - Protect the United States and Americans - Advance democracy, human rights and other global interests - Promote international understanding of American values and policies - Support US diplomats, government officials and all other personnel at home and abroad who make these goals a reality **DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES:** There are more than 190 countries in the world, and the United States maintains diplomatic relations with some 180 of them, as well as with many international organizations. Advances in travel, trade and technology have made the world more interconnected today than ever before, making interactions with other countries and their citizens more important for the United States. Americans at home and abroad face threats to their physical and economic well-being. The State Department protects our nation, its people and American prosperity. Nurture common interests and values between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. **ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND SECURITY:** The State Department supports US businesses at home and abroad. Officers at US embassies around the world are experts on the business practices of foreign countries and what products and markets are important in those countries. They identify opportunities for American firms and help support them in exporting or working within the country. The State Department: - Helps ensure that American workers, businesspeople and farmers can fairly compete for foreign investment and trade - Negotiates trade agreements to open foreign markets to increase opportunities to sell American products and services abroad - Supports US business interests overseas by pointing out potential problems and helping make sure that American companies can sell products or services within a foreign country - Works with international and US organizations to represent business interests - Promotes and licenses exports that contribute tens of billions of dollars to the US economy - Protects American intellectual property rights (copyrights and patents) - Helps other countries develop strong, free market economies that provide investment and export opportunities - Promoting freedom and democracy, and protecting human rights around the world are central to US foreign policy **PROMOTING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING:** Mutual understanding between Americans and people in other countries advances US national interests by fostering a sense of common interests and common values. To that end, the State Department engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society and values to help create an environment receptive to US national interests. We communicate with foreign opinion-makers and other publics through a variety of public diplomacy programs, using cutting edge technologies, including websites in English and 6 foreign languages, as well as traditional text publications. Additionally, experts in many fields travel to other countries to engage foreign audiences. The Department also provides information outreach support to US embassies and consulates in more than 140 countries worldwide. One of the most effective means of increasing mutual understanding is through people-to-people exchange programs. The State Department annually sponsors more than 40.000 educational and cultural exchanges (including visitors to the United States and Americans traveling abroad). These exchanges offer firsthand experiences of American society and culture to foreign visitors and provide opportunities for Americans to learn about other countries, cultures and peoples. Such intercultural experiences personify the universal values of human rights, freedom, equality and opportunity that all civilized nations share. **HISTORY OF THE USA:** 1. **1776-1823:** building a Republic, becoming the first democratic nation in the world with a true balance of power (President -- legislative -- judiciary system independent from one another) the golden years and the golden principles of the USA **\*1823:** [the Monroe Doctrine] America for the Americans. If Europe invaded American countries, America would invade them. 2. **1823-1867:** the Expansionist Years 3. **1867-1913:** US rise to World Power / US Colonialism. American civil war between the south and the north due to slavery (the reality was economic interest because the south was getting too rich selling agricultural products by exploiting black slaves) **\*1898:** the Spanish American War USA took some of the Spanish colonies (Philippines), becoming a major force in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, and a major player in the economic arena. 4. **1914-1945:** global conflict and neutrality 5. **1946-1988:** from global actor to super-power / Cold War 6. **1989-2009:** US hegemony (the end of history) 7. **2009-2024:** US hegemonic role been challenged