POLS 306 Public Policy
Spring 14
Foreign and Defense Policy Part 2
Chapter 15 Tom Dye
How does God teach Americans geography?
Pt 1: Background and Reminders of Things We Know
Some Budget Background - Remember These?
Follow the Money; It Tells the Story.
PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN'S ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS,
MARCH 12, 1947
 At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between
alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. One way of life is based
upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative
government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and
religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon
the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and
oppression, a controlled press and radio; fixed elections, and the suppression of
personal freedoms.
 I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are
resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe
that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I
believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is
essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.
Begin by refreshing our memory:
Power
The ability to influence another’s behavior.
Getting people to do what they wouldn’t do otherwise. (Wasserman)
Chairman Mao: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”
Authority
Legitimate Power
Legal basis
Accepted as right
“should”
Deserves obedience
An efficient form of power
(no need for force if you should obey)
“Anyone can clear a street with a gun. Only an accepted authority can do it with just a
word.” (Wasserman)
“Because I said so, that’s why.” (My mom, and probably yours too.)
Government
A political association that
Makes rules determining who will get the valued things of society
Singularly regulates the use of legitimate force in society
Just War
Thomas Aquinas
When is it morally acceptable to go to war?
Must have public authority, just cause, and right motive.
What forms of war are morally permissible?
No intentional targeting of civilians.
No excessive force, only appropriate and necessary force.
Deterrence
Known punishments will prevent certain actions by fear of consequences
M.A.D.
A New Start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utGP4HPgT9M&feature=player_embedded#
Note: It was quickly ratified, and it went into effect Feb. 2011.
“We cannot wait for the smoking gun to become a mushroom cloud.”
Then National Security Advisor, later Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice
Pt 2: Realism vs. Idealism
Realism vs. Idealism
Realism
The philosophy of many names:
Realpolitik
(Political Realism)
“Classical” Diplomacy
Might not Right
“No universal self evident principles of justice, right or wrong, or truth, THUS … national
interest is the only legitimate goal, the only defensible goal.” (Description from Clarke
Cochran)
Realism Concepts
Balance of Powers
“Foreign policy adopted by rival states to prevent any one state or alliance from
gaining a preponderance of power.” (Shafritz p. 302)
Domestic version of Balance of Powers –
Countervailing Theory – pluralist group competition
Unilateralism – Acting alone and in your own best interest.
Idealism
Hugo Grotius (Hugo De Groot) – Common law among Nations
Nuremberg Principle – Universal Sense of Justice
Woodrow Wilson - Wilsonian Idealism
“There are knowable and universal principles of justice over and above the laws and
policies of any particular state, THUS…governments and people can be held
accountable for the protection and pursuit of those principles.” (Description from Clarke
Cochran)
Idealism Concepts
Containment
“Soviet pressure against free institutions of the western world is something that can be
contained by the adroit and vigilant application of counter force.” George F. Kennan
(X) – before he became a realist
Multilateralism – Acting together with other nations and in support of a consensus.
A Helpful Hint:
Reagan – Evil Empire
G. W. Bush – Iraq, Iran, N. Korea were “Axis of Evil”.
Which One is This?
At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between
alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. One way of life is based
upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, representative
government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and
religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon
the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and
oppression, a controlled press and radio; fixed elections, and the suppression of
personal freedoms.
I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are
resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. I believe
that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way. I
believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is
essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.
PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN'S ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS,
MARCH 12, 1947
Pt 3: War Powers
Who Cares What Truman Thinks, Congress Declares War, Right?
1,2, 3,4, I declare a…
Article I Section 8
Congress shall have the power…
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning
Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a
longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress
Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such
Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the
States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the
Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
Article II, Section 2
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States,
and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United
States;
Take a look at the table of wars
The War Powers Act
Congress has not used its constitutional power to declare war since 1941
Criticism of the President’s role in Vietnam led to the War Powers Act of 1973
The President may only commit troops abroad for a period of 60 days, (90 if including
withdrawal)
Congress must approve a longer period
Nixon vetoed it, they over-rode the veto
Presidents don’t like it, but tend to go for some sort of authorizing resolution from
Congress
Remember, no matter what, Congress still funds things!
Thursday: Handout on recent military history and foreign policy doctrines
Countries - 60 seconds of current events
Suggested Sources:
CIA Factbook
 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
BBC
 http://www.bbc.com/news/
Foreign Affairs
 http://www.foreignaffairs.com/regions
Janes
 http://www.janes.com/
Well Informed Insurers and Businessmen:
 http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2012/02/08/top-15-global-hot-spots-forpolitical-risk?page=3
 http://usa.marsh.com/NewsInsights/MarshRiskManagementResearch/ID/34070/P
olitical-Risk-Trends-and-Hotspots-for-2014.aspx (Free registration)