The Usa in World Affairs
Objectives of American Foreign Policy
Peace
National Security
America did not have national security councils until 1812 (concerning borders etc.) because we were not worried about threats
Self-Preservation
Survival
Maintain your status and integrity as a nation
Influences on American Foreign Relations
External factors
Internal factors
Usually overlooked. Has a strong consequences to foreign policies
Isolationism
Expansionism
Conflict between these last two. We want to protect ourselves and keep our selves from external factors, yet we feel destined to expand everywhere
External Influences
U.S. foreign policy designed to cope with actions of other countries on the world stage
America has been involved in every major world war since the founding of Jamestown in 1807
Plus, regional wars and military actions without formal declarations of war
To defend or expand boundaries or to wage a preventive war
To defend domestic institutions, economic prosperity, ideological and religious beliefs.
To preserve in world our power, territory, natural resources, industrial capacity, population, national character, national morale, quality of government
U.S. not always a powerful state. Reacted in earlier times much differently that more recent times.
Internal Influences
Foreign policy “realists” argue domestic events should not enter into foreign policy, but they always do
Even dictators must take domestic issues into consideration
Political considerations i.e. to win elections
Economic gain for small groups of individuals or the entire country
Ethnic ties and sympathies
Religious ties and sympathies
1990’s the conservatives gave Clinton hell for not protecting Christianity in China
Emotions and psychological make up of certain Americans idealism, nationalism, jingoism.
Isolationism
Geographic
Locked between two major oceans: trade, British policies took long, disease barrier from the rest of the world
Linguistic
English speaking country. Told
Peace
National Security
America did not have national security councils until 1812 (concerning borders etc.) because we were not worried about threats
Self-Preservation
Survival
Maintain your status and integrity as a nation
Influences on American Foreign Relations
External factors
Internal factors
Usually overlooked. Has a strong consequences to foreign policies
Isolationism
Expansionism
Conflict between these last two. We want to protect ourselves and keep our selves from external factors, yet we feel destined to expand everywhere
External Influences
U.S. foreign policy designed to cope with actions of other countries on the world stage
America has been involved in every major world war since the founding of Jamestown in 1807
Plus, regional wars and military actions without formal declarations of war
To defend or expand boundaries or to wage a preventive war
To defend domestic institutions, economic prosperity, ideological and religious beliefs.
To preserve in world our power, territory, natural resources, industrial capacity, population, national character, national morale, quality of government
U.S. not always a powerful state. Reacted in earlier times much differently that more recent times.
Internal Influences
Foreign policy “realists” argue domestic events should not enter into foreign policy, but they always do
Even dictators must take domestic issues into consideration
Political considerations i.e. to win elections
Economic gain for small groups of individuals or the entire country
Ethnic ties and sympathies
Religious ties and sympathies
1990’s the conservatives gave Clinton hell for not protecting Christianity in China
Emotions and psychological make up of certain Americans idealism, nationalism, jingoism.
Isolationism
Geographic
Locked between two major oceans: trade, British policies took long, disease barrier from the rest of the world
Linguistic
English speaking country. Told