Interpreting US Foreign Policy (I)

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

Security threats to the US

Global weapon proliferation

WMD & terrorist groups WMD & rouge states Disease of Mass Destruction (DMD)

SARS Avian Influenza

Threats are real at home

1993 World Trade Center bombing 2001 Terrorist attacks

Security threats affect daily lives of Americans

Enhanced security check at airport Potential impact on civil liberties

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

Economic Interdependence

Increasing share of GDP from foreign trade

> 10% in 1960 > 25% in 2006

Intl division of labor & US employment

Outsourcing production Dependence on foreign consumer goods

Foreign currency exchange rates

Trade deficits & undervalued foreign currency

Foreign investment
FDI (foreign direct investment) & growth Growth rate & employment

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

US

& Global Society

Foreign environmental mismanagement

Foreign domestic politics impact USA

Chinas desertification & sand storm Chinas wildlife survival crisis & SARS Threat of global spread of avian influenza Border security & relations with Mexico

Foreign wildlife mismanagement

Foreign farm animal welfare crisis

Poverty & immigration issue

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

Ethnic

diversity of American society

Foreign born Americans & their ethnic culture

Little Italy, Little Havana, China Town Foreign culture impact mainstream life

Foreign cuisine impacts American eating habit Foreign arts & cultural products infiltrate American society Jackie Chen & Chinese martial arts Pokemon cards, hello kitty & American youth

Understanding foreign culture = understanding own culture

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

US

Preeminence in World Politics

Enormous political influence

Only superpower
American democracy serves to inspire

Superior military capability

Global presence and global reach Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina Japan, South Korea, Germany, Cuba, North Korea, Iran & weapons proliferation issue Israel-Palestine conflict
China rising on ferocious American appetite for Chinese goods

Extensive diplomatic engagement

Economic might

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

US

Preeminence in World Politics

Economic might

Only superpower
China rising on ferocious American appetite for Chinese goods American tourists enrich Caribbean & other destinations Popularity of American products overseas American cigarettes, cars, McDonalds, KFC, Cocacola

American citizens & foreign policy

Informed citizens exert influence via

Elections Lobbying, protest, demonstrations,

Why Study US Foreign Policy?

US

Moral Obligations
Human rights violation Murder as a policy tool in the Balkans Genocide & mass starvation

Human tragedies remain around the world

Informed citizens help US respond to global humanitarian crisis

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Objectives

of US Foreign Policy

Foreign policies are made in the name of national interest Four core goals/elements of national interest (the 4 Ps framework)
Power Peace Prosperity Principles
A particular policy can be seen to pursue one, several or all of the Ps.

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Power

as the objective

A most basic goal since power :

Is key to a strong defense and credible deterrence Enhances influence over other actors Advances own interest and aggressiveness.

Realists perception
International politics is a struggle for power. Competition and conflicts are constant Cooperation among states is limited The world is a self-help system; it is jungle States pursue power enlargement for survival.

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Power

as the objective

Realists perception Indicators of a realist foreign policy

Coercive diplomacy Big military spending alliance against a mutual enemy

Peace

as the objective

Perception of International institutionalism

World politics is a cultivable garden Cooperation is possible and reduces tensions. Diplomacy works better than military means International institutions serve to sustain cooperation

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Peace

as the objective

Perception of International institutionalism

Anarchy cannot be eliminated; but can be tempered or regulated via intl organizations, negotiations, treaties.

Indicators of a peace-oriented policy

Acting as peace broker

shuttle diplomacy in the Mideast by Dr. Kissinger The Camp David accord between Egypt and Israel in 1978 The 1995 Dayton accord ending the war in Bosnia US participation in the six-party talk on North Korea

Diplomacy over military means

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Prosperity

as the objective

Two schools of thought Capitalist free trade economic thinking

Foreign policy: serves the general economic interest of the nation Strives for a favorable balance of trade Pursues a strong growth Maintains a healthy macro economy Reflections in foreign policy: Granting of most favored nation status Support of free trade

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Prosperity

as the objective

Two schools of thought Capitalist free trade economic thinking

Reflections in foreign policy Signing intl agreements related to intl trade Supporting intl econ organizations, e.g., GATT, IMF, WTO

Theories of imperialism & neo-colonialism

US foreign policy:

Serves the parochial interest of the rich such as Multinational corporations and banks Continues domination of the less developed nations thru economic means

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

Principles

as the objective

This goal involves the values, ideals, and beliefs that the US has claimed to stand for in the world. The perception of democratic idealism
Right should always stand above might as a policy choice since America is morally unique and exceptional Promoting democracy around the world serves the interest of promoting peace because democracies do not fight among themselves

Indications of a principle-oriented policy

Ascendance of human rights as a policy factor Sanctions imposed on Communist states

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

4

Ps & Interpretation: A Case

See handout 1. Interpreting US Iran policy objective 1. Pursuit of Power Iranian oil needed to sustain American economic power Alliance with Iran enhanced US power in Cold War years US support of the Shah ensured American influence & presence in the Persian Gulf region The US was strategically superior in Mideast to USSR.

American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

4 Ps & Interpretation: A Case

American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)
See handout 1. Interpreting US Iran policy objective 1. Pursuit of Peace 1. US intervention was necessary to stabilize Iran & Mideast. 2. Intimate relations with US deterred Soviet aggression in Iran and Mideast. 3. When Mideast was stable, USSR had no reason to disrupt peace in that region. A stable Mideast served the interest of peace between the two major military blocks.

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

4 Ps & Interpretation: A Case

American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)
See handout 1. Interpreting US Iran policy objective 1. Pursuit of Prosperity (I) 1. US prosperity requires extensive foreign economic relations 2. Increasing consumption of foreign raw materials calls for stable trade relations 3. Iranian oil helps fuel sustained growth in the US American prosperity benefits the entire society.

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

4 Ps & Interpretation: A Case

American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)
See handout 1. Interpreting US Iran policy objective 1. Pursuit of Prosperity (II) 1. US-Iranian ties only benefited the rich & the multinational corporations 2. Like ties to other developing nations, US-Iranian relations served to sustain inequality between North & South US Iranian policy sharpens the conflicts between the rich & the poor in the US and in the world.

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

4 Ps & Interpretation: A Case

American-Iranian Relations (1953-1979)
See handout 1. Interpreting US Iran policy objective 1. Pursuit of Principles 1. US Iran policy aimed to fulfill Americas commitment to democracy around the world. 2. Intimate relations opened Iran to American values of democracy, equality and civil liberties. 3. US presence in Mideast works best for political & social change in this conservative region. 4. Iran could move from adopting Western lifestyle to embracing Western institutions.

Interpreting US Foreign Policy

4 Ps & Interpretation: A Case

Group Project 1: Interpreting US Operation in

Afghanistan (See handout 2 on my webpage)