Foreign Policy
Majoritarian Politics
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Foreign Policy perceived to provide
widespread benefits by imposing
widespread costs (in this scenario,
president dominates with support from
public
Ex:
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Military Conflicts/Wars
Military Alliances (NATO)
Strategic Arms Limitations (SALT)
Foreign Policy: Historical Context &
World Views
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Distinct eras in the evolution of
American foreign policy:
Isolationism
World Power
Super Power
Post Cold-War
Post 9/11 Era
(Pre- WWI)
(Pre- WWII)
(Post- WWII)
(Following Fall of Soviet Union)
(Sept. 2001)
Foreign Policy and Public
Opinion
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Usually formed by public and elite opinion
(State/NSC)
Support for “active” involvement persisted until
Vietnam
Public however tends to support President in “rally
around the flag” effect (usually occurs in crises
situations)
Military casualties often leads to increased division in
public opinion
Elites tend to be more “internationalist” in nature
4 Historical World Views
Four worldviews:
 a.
Isolationism paradigm (WWI) - 20’s-30’s
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Containment paradigm (Cold War) 40’s-60’s
 c.
Disengagement (Vietnam) paradigm 70’s - ?
 d.
Human Rights (post WWII) paradigm, (applied
unevenly ie., Europe not Africa)
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4.
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New paradigm : War on terror
Should the U.S. act unilaterally or with a broad coalition?
(Bush Doctrine—Pre-emptive Strikes)
Isolationism v. New Global Strategy
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Hot Wars replaced by “limited” action events
(exception is Iraq; 2003)----”flexible response”
Global Economics has U.S. flying flag all over the
globe
Strategies Vary
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Economic Sanctions (isolate the bad guys, e.g., Cuba,
Russia)
Nuclear Proliferation
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Build a Defense System (in Europe; opposed by Russians)
Nuclear Treaties (NPT)
N. Korea, Iran, Libya (prevention)
Makers of Foreign Policy: Cooperation or
Competition
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Constitution creates an “invitation to struggle” for the president
and Congress on war powers
President is the commander in chief but Congress
appropriates the money
President appoints ambassadors but Senate confirms them
President negotiates treaties but the Senate must ratify
them with a two-thirds vote
Only Congress can regulate commerce with other nations
and declare war
But Americans think that the president is in charge and
history confirms that belief
Presidential Responsibility
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Support within the executive branch
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Sec.of State: Official responsible for foreign affairs
Other cabinet officials: Commerce, Treasury, Defense,
Agriculture all affected by foreign affairs
National Security Council (NSC)
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Coordinates policy
Members include Pres./V.P./Sec. Of State/Sec. Of Defense/CIA
Chief/National Security Advisor
Advisor has emerged as key player (e.g., Kissinger as Nixon’s
advisor); loyalty not divided between President and cabinet;
like the secretary of state
Other Executive Branch
Support
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Dept. of Homeland Security
State Department: responsible for day to day management of
foreign policy
U.S. Information Agency: Radio Free Europe (P.R.)
Director of National Intelligence: oversees 15 intelligence
agencies
CIA (created in 1947 to monitor Soviets)
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Functions: gather and evaluate intelligence (info on other nations)
Covert operations (gov’t secrecy in democracy?)
Intelligence oversight committees
9/11 renewed call for more effective CIA
NSA: cryptologic and surveillance org.
Influence on Foreign Policy
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Public Opinion
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Interest Groups
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Mass public unaware of foreign policy ~75%
Opinion makers influence two publics
“Think Tanks” (e.g., Council on Foreign Affairs)
Ethnic Organizations (e.g., American-Israeli PAC)
Foreign Nations’ Lobbyists
Political Parties
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Tradition has been for U.S. to have “bipartisan” foreign policy
(“Politics end at the water’s edge”)-----Only exception (Iraq War)
Congressional Influence
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Congressional Checks (funding, war declaration, treaty
ratification, approval of appointments; Senate Foreign Relations
Committee)
Trend in 20th C. to defer to President (w/ notable exceptions)
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Blockage of Treaty of Versailles
Neutrality Acts of 1930’s
Fulbright Hearings on Viet Nam War
War Powers Act (1973)
Opposition to Gulf War
Rejection of Test Ban Treaty in 1999
Criticism of giving China MFN status
Criticism of Bush security measures following 9/11
Increasing criticism of Iraq war policy (2006); deadline for
withdraw