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Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy. What is it, how is it developed, and the specifics through the years. Détente’. A policy of Nixon administration followed to develop more cordial relations with the Soviet Union .

walter-hebert
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Foreign Policy

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  1. Foreign Policy What is it, how is it developed, and the specifics through the years

  2. Détente’ • A policy of Nixon administration followed to develop more cordial relations with the Soviet Union. • Aimed in part in enlisting Soviet support to assist US in getting North Vietnam back to peace table & serious negotiations • So that US could get out of Vietnam “with honor.” • Détente’ lasted until 1979 • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late 1979 (Carter) brought US-Soviet Détente’to an abrupt end. • Lasting impact, specifically with terrorism US-Soviet relations declined even more when Ronald Reagan took office (“Evil Empire” Speech)

  3. Reagan &“The Evil Empire” • Reagan pursues hard line with the Soviets • A corrupt USSR system living on barrowed economic times • Serious reform long past due to save it from collapse • 1985: Mikhail Gorbachev=> comes to power & attempts reform => Perestroika & Glasnost • Problem: Soviet system too corrupt & broken to salvage • Reagan’sSDI=> outspending the Soviets into defeat • Unable to keep up with strategic arms race & go broke trying • Year of Revolution& fall of Eastern Europe - 1989 • Fall of Berlin Wall – symbol of Soviet Communism • US Military operations inThird Worldcontinued: • Grenada, Panama, Iraq #1 • (Clear lack of Soviet support for its former ally- Iraq) • Fall of Soviet Union- 1991 & End of Cold War

  4. After the Cold War • New World Order– • Strategic reassessment (Bush I) tries to figure out what US should do during the post Cold War era • Still trying to decide when Clinton is elected in 1992 • Policy of Enlargement(Clinton)=> • Expand democracy & free markets globally • Also use military force as required (& we did): • Somalia 1993 • Haiti 1994 • Bosnia & NATO peacekeeping- 1995 • Serbia bombing – 1999 • Kosovo – NATO bombing & peacekeeping- 2000

  5. Further Clinton Foreign Policy • WTC Bombing 1993- Did he do enough? • USS Cole 10/12/2000- The same questions arise • Do we do anything as a result prior to 9-11? • It was Al Qaeda! • How does this compare to Clinton on the previous slide?

  6. Foreign Policy Under George W. Bush • Neo-isolationism: from 2000 until 9/11/2001 • Theory: US should take a step back • Avoid always acting as world’s policeman • Reality: Campaign rhetoric gives way to real world once in office • The world is still very dangerous & America is not immune • ON 9/11/2001 that reality hit home hard => revised policy • The Bush Doctrine: • America’s post 9/11/2001 Policy & Strategy- • Focus: Counter Terror Policy & National Security Strategy • Preemptive strikes & “preventative war” • US invasion of Afghanistan & Iraq II

  7. Obama’s Foreign Policy • Refocusing on the threat from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan • Reaching conclusion in Iraq • Keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists • Promoting peace and security in Israel and the Middle East • Re-energizing America’s alliances • Maintaining core American values (closing Guantanamo Bay prison) • Ending the crisis in Darfur and ensuring Sudan’s long-term stability • Restoring American leadership in Latin America

  8. Foreign Policy (FP) VersusDomestic Policy (DP) • National Interest & its various degrees & levels • Vital vs. Important- (who decides?) • Text: “Two presidencies” • At Home( weak president) vs. Abroad (strong one)- why? • Five Sources of Presidential Foreign Policy power: • 1. The Constitution & president’s enumeratedvs. implied powers • 2. President’s “inherent” advantages in Foreign Policy • 3. Role of precedentin presidential dealings in Foreign Policy • 4. Supreme Court Rulings regarding presidential FP actions • 5. Behavior of Congress when the President takes decisive action • Let’s examines these sources of power in greater detail*

  9. 1. The Constitution and Foreign Policy • Article I=> enumeratedCongressional powers include: • Provide for common defense • Regulate commerce • Define & punish Piracies & Felonies on high seas • Declare War (when was the last declared war?) • Raise & support Armies & maintain a Navy • Make rules & regulations for land & naval forces (UCMJ) • Power of the purse => (fund or not fund military deployments) • Article II=> enumeratedPresidential powers: • Commander in Chief (title or job description?) • Power to make treaties (subject to Senate’s ratification) • Appoint Ambassadors (Senate also has role- what?)

  10. 2. The President’s Inherent Advantages • Foreign Policy success depends on (what?): • Speed(quickly seize the initiative) • Discretion(secrecy) • Flexibility(shift priorities as needed & compromise) • Presidential initiativesdepend on the venue used: • Foreign Policy (FP) vs. Domestic Policy (DP)- • Difference between the two (presidential freedom of action?) • FP: UnlessCongress acts to halt president’s actions • (Military Force Deployment) – it stands- versus: • DP: UntilCongress agrees to act president’s initiative • (Social Security reform)- nothing happens

  11. 3. Precedent • President’s aggressive interpretation of FP powers • Any presidential action establishes precedent • If left unchallenged or challenge is unsuccessful=> • Implied power is successfully established as result • Successors use as spring board for further expansion • Truman to present=> • Implied power • Title confersimplied power to order troops into combat • Now accepted as precedent (though grudgingly) • Also depends on the perceived power & popularity (poll numbers) of the president

  12. 4. Supreme Court Rulings • US v. Curtiss -Wright Export Corporation (1936) • Court Decision: President’s FP powers go beyond Constitution • Impact:expanded implied Presidential powers in Foreign Policy • US v. Belmont (‘37)=> executive agreement (vs. Treaty) • Result:executive agreementstrend up- over 90% • Furthermore Court usually refuses to hear challenges on FP • Effect: de facto Court support for presidential FP prerogatives • Desire to avoid Presidential/Congress political disputes in FP • Also Court believes FP rulings simply beyond their competence

  13. 5. Behavior of Congress • Partisan & institutional divisions in Congress=> • Results in their lack of unified action to challenge • Belief in strong Presidential leadership in FP • Electoral considerations • (What if President is right? – avoid voters’ displeasure) • Post WWII vs. post Vietnam Congressional behavior • End of Vietnam War & Cold War => • More Congressional activism in Foreign Policy • Post Iraq II Congressional behavior? (TBD)

  14. Who Makes U.S. Foreign Policy? President NSC White House Staff Foreign Policy Bureaucracies Congress American Public How much power & influence does each have on FP?*

  15. Foreign Policy Power Let’s examine each more closely

  16. The White House & NSC • Role of President & Vice President • Varies w/administration • Generally=> President has called all the shots • Recently VP delegated a great deal of power & influence • Certainly true of this Administration • National Security Council (NSC)* • Plays key role in formulating American Foreign Policy • NSC advisor & his or her staff’s role • Plays as eitherHonest brokerorpolicy advocate • Depends on President’s preference & NSC advisor • Nixon & Kissinger vs. Bush II & Rice (now Hadley)

  17. National Security Council (NSC) • Created in 1947 • Members include: • The President & Vice President • Secretary of State & Secretary of Defense • Director of CIA & Chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff • (Advisors to statutory members- subject to change) • The staff is headed up by the National Security Advisor • Other relevant Cabinet Secretaries invited as required

  18. Foreign Policy Bureaucracy State Department Defense Department CIA & Intel Community NSC Staff (Coordinator) Let’s examine their specific Foreign Policy roles

  19. The Foreign Policy Bureaucracy • Roles of Department of State (DOS) vs. Defense (DOD) • Current Iraq II example: DOD took the lead over State • Major debate ensued • (Winning the Peace vice just Winning the War) • Personality driven debate (who has the most influence?) • Uniformed Armed Svs’ role • Chairman & Joint Chiefs • (CJCS & JCS chiefs) • Military judgments in a political world (The Challenge?)

  20. Intelligence community • Intelligence community & selected agencies • Major current power shifts creating disruptions • DNI & CIA- who’s on first? (TBD ) • Expertise & experience must be taken into account • Recent Intel failure illustrates problem when not=> • Telling the boss always what he wants to hear? • Impact? (Tends to downplay unpleasant or hard news) • Also all Agencies compete with each other for power, influence, & $$$ (Budget share) • Result: Tends to drive US FP to also include what in their recommendations? • Agency’s own interests & agenda

  21. Constitution (Article I) assigns Congress explicit powers Result: Considerabletheoretical influence in foreign policy Before WWI & II, Congress tended to assert greater role in Foreign Policy During the 1950s and 1960sCongress typically deferred to the Executive Branch (Since WWII & start of Cold War) During 1970s and 1980sCongressional activism in foreign policy grew (Post Vietnam & Watergate) Post 9/11 Congress tended to defer to President (at first) Now appears to be re-asserting itself as war becomes unpopular Congress & Foreign Policy

  22. Congress & Foreign Policy (2) • So extent of power & influence varies over time • Cold War vs. post-Watergate & post-Vietnam War vs. • Post 9/11 (…and back to the future) • 3 ways Congress influences Foreign Policy: • 1. Substantive legislation • $$$ appropriations shape policy => power • 2. Procedural legislation • How laws & regulations must be applied wrt Policy • 3. Efforts to shape Public Opinion • (Democrats vs. GOP on success or failure of Iraq II)

  23. Public Opinion & Foreign Policy • Two options for the Public to shape Foreign Policy: • 1. Join interest groups & lobby Congress & President • 2. Vote for candidates aligned with their political views • Public seldom able to effect day to day polices (Iraq II) • Often policy makers decide with little regard to the Public –why? • Public lack detailed knowledge & expertise • Apathy (most don’t even know or care where crisis spot is) • More concerned with domestic & economic issues • Public usually rallies around President once conflict starts • Initial resistance to deployment => then active support • But with time support will wane if casualties grow and/or progress seems to take too long at too high a price • Then the Public makes its concerns known & with impact

  24. Impact of Public Opinion on Foreign Policy • Public Opinion provide decision makers with very little guidance, but… • Two indirect effects of Public Opinion: • 1. Constrains future policies which can be considered • Example: Vietnam legacy => Vietnam syndrome • 2. Determines Washington’s FP priorities(with the media) • Iraq II example=> looters initially brushed off by SECDEF • Media alerted public & public became concerned re. Iraqi Museum • As result FBI went to Iraq to track down stolen antiquities • Recent Public concern for Intel failure wrt WMD • Forced Administration to adjust reason for invasion (democracy) • Then forced to defend itself against critics (cherry picking Intel?)

  25. Challenges of the Post–Cold War Era • Major debate continues: • What should the US role be in the post-Cold War era? • Disagreements over Goals & Strategies & Change: • Terror strike of 9/11/2001 changed everything • Debate now centers on strategy to prevent 2nd attack • Preventive War & pre-emptive strikes (Bush Doctrine) • (Containment strategyno longer viable option)- why? • Soviet Union no longer exists & suicide bombers can’t be logically deterred • Homeland Security & Defense at what expense? • What’s at stake: Cost in $$$ & Freedoms

  26. US Defense Spending (in $$$: 1962-2010) Another way to look at Defense Spending?*

  27. DOD Budget (as % of GDP) Korean War % of G D P Vietnam War (High point) Cold War Ends 9/11

  28. Disagreements about the goals and strategies of American foreign policy for 21st century An ever changing foreign policy agenda Cold War => Post Cold War => Bush Doctrine Unilateralversus multilateral*FP approach How are they different?* Future Challenges to US Foreign Policy

  29. Unilateralism: The tendency of the US to act alone in foreign affairs without consulting other countries. Multilateralism: Three or more Nations cooperate together to solve some common foreign policy problem Unilateralism vs. Multilateralism Particular approach selectedwill depend on the major FP problems the US will face during the 21st Century

  30. Potential Problems in US Foreign Policy for 21st Century • The United States will face complex problems in: • Nuclear proliferation(North Korea & Iran) • Military interventions(The Middle East & exiting Iraq) • Economic policy(Trade imbalance w/China & MEOil prices) • Globalization(Global interdependence & domestic impact) • “Inter-mestic” issues (Foreign Policy impact at home) • Human rights(American ideals vs. US National interests) • Homeland Security(Balancing security with liberties) • The unknown threat(Future “9/11s”?)

  31. KEY TERMS • Cold War: A phrase used to describe the high level of tension and distrust that characterized relations between the Soviet Union and the United States from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. • Containment: A bedrock principle of U.S. foreign policy from the 1940s to the 1980s that emphasized the need to prevent communist countries, especially the Soviet Union, from expanding the territory they controlled. • Detente: A policy the Nixon administration followed to develop more cordial relations with the Soviet Union. • Engagement:The policy of encouraging U.S. trade and investment in a country in an effort to encourage it to pursue policies more to America’s liking. • Enlargement: The policy President Bill Clinton proposed as a substitute for containment. It calls on the United States to promote the emergence of market democracies; that is, countries that combine a free market economic system with a democratic political system. • Executive agreements: International agreements that, unlike treaties, do not require the approval of two-thirds of the Senate to become binding on the United States. • Foreign Service Officers: Career professional diplomats who work for the Department of State. • Free trade: An economic policy that holds that lowering trade barriers will benefit the economies of all the countries involved. • Glasnost: Soviet policy of openess and transparency in all government institutions.

  32. KEY TERMS • Globalism: The idea that the United States should be prepared to use military force around the globe to defend its political and economic interests. • Globalization: The process by which growing economic relations and technological change make countries increasingly interdependent. • Intermestic issues: Issues such as trade, the environment, and drug trafficking that affect both domestic and foreign interests. • Isolationism: A foreign policy built on the principle of avoiding formal military and political alliances with other countries. • Multilateralism: An approach in which three or more countries cooperate for the purpose of solving some common problem. • National interest: The idea that the United States has certain interests in international relations that most Americans agree on. • National Missile Defense (NMD): A weapons system that, if it can be made to work, would potentially protect the United States and possibly its allies against attack by long-range ballistic missiles. • Neo-conservativism:Recent resurgence of Conservative ideology, especially toward Foreign Policy. • Neo-isolationism: The idea that the United States should reduce its role in world affairs and return to a foreign policy similar to the one it pursued before World War II.

  33. KEY TERMS • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): A military alliance founded in 1949 for the purpose of defending Western Europe from attack. Members of NATO include the United States, Canada, and fourteen European countries. • Perestroika: a restructuring of the Soviet political and economic system • Sovereignty: The power of self-rule. • Third World: A term loosely defined to mean the developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. • Unilateralism: The tendency of the United States to act alone in foreign affairs without consulting other countries. • World Trade Organization (WTO): The international trade agency that began operation in 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

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