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The P o liti cs of Publ ic Po licy

The P o liti cs of Publ ic Po licy. Chapter 20: Foreign and Military Policy. Kinds of foreign policy. Majoritarian perceived to benefit many perceived to burden many Example: military dominant figure: president. Kinds of foreign policy. Client perceived to benefit few

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The P o liti cs of Publ ic Po licy

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  1. ThePoliticsofPublic Policy Chapter 20: Foreign and Military Policy

  2. Kinds of foreign policy • Majoritarian • perceived to benefit many • perceived to burden many • Example: military • dominant figure: president

  3. Kinds of foreign policy • Client • perceived to benefit few • perceived to burden many • Example: companies with contracts to support foreign nations • agriculture • industrial • military • dominant figure: Congress

  4. The Constitutional and Legal Context • foreign policy conflict • president • commander in chief of armed forces • can “make” war • negotiate treaties

  5. The Constitutional and Legal Context • foreign policy conflict • Congress • funds military action • can “declare” war • ratifies treaties

  6. The Constitutional and Legal Context • foreign policy conflict • “Box Score” of foreign policy • President • wins more often in foreign affairs than in domestic affairs • not as powerful as other democratic heads of government • foreign policy power is double-edged sword • president strong enough to act in “good” cases • is strong enough to act in “bad” cases

  7. The Constitutional and Legal Context • foreign policy conflict • Box Score” of foreign policy • Congress • has the power to restrict funding of foreign policy • has gone to court over presidential actions • Courts • have mostly sided with the president • allowed internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII • did not allow nationalization of steel industry during Korean War • States • almost NO power in foreign policy

  8. The Constitutional and Legal Context • Checks on Presidential Power • more political than Constitutional • greatest Constitutional check on presidential power is Congress’s power of the purse • War Powers Act • president must report to Congress • in writing • within 48 hours of committing troops

  9. The Constitutional and Legal Context • Checks on Presidential Power • War Powers Act • Congress must assent • within 60 days • by declaration of war or similar legal proclamation • president must withdraw if Congress does not agree

  10. The Constitutional and Legal Context • Checks on Presidential Power • War Powers Act • if both chambers of Congress pass a resolution of withdrawal • president must withdraw troops • president may not veto (found unconstitutional) • has not been used effectively to curb presidential power

  11. The Constitutional and Legal Context • Checks on Presidential Power • Intelligence Oversight • CIA must inform Congressional Intelligence Committees on covert actions • Committees cannot disapprove the actions • they can pass legislation to block it for specific time period

  12. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • Old School = almost all by secretary of state • America becomes a world power • president takes a more active roll • agencies (re)formed to deal with details • some new • some old

  13. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • America becomes a world power • National Security Council • helps president to coordinate all that activity • give account of views of different agencies • causes conflict • help president choose from various options • loser may go to Congress for help • oversee implementation of presidential program

  14. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • America becomes a world power • National Security Council • members • chaired by president • must include • vice president • secretary of state • secretary of defense • may include • director of CIA • chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff • attorney general

  15. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • Broad outline of foreign policy • public opinion • elite opinion • Watershed event = World War II • first highly “popular” war (good vs. evil) • seemed successful (evil was defeated) • USA emerged as a superpower nation • shift from isolationist to internationalist feelings

  16. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • Backing the President – “Rallying around the flag” • public usually gives support to US when it confronts foreign nations in a crisis situation • presidential popularity often RISES even if the situation turns out badly • sometimes though, not as much in certain places • occurs most often when America is attacked or threatened

  17. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • Backing the President – “Rallying around the flag” • Leeriness of going to war • disappears once the conflict starts • support grows • desire to win at (nearly) all costs • Effects of war dead • rising death numbers make public want an escalation • put a quick end (and victory) to the conflict

  18. The Machinery of Foreign Policy • Backing the President – “Rallying around the flag” • Groups with highest levels of anti-war sentiments • Democrats • African-Americans • post-graduate degree holders

  19. Mass Public Opinion vs. Elite Opinion • Most of the public is ill-informed about foreign affairs • Political elites are better informed • but opinions of elites can change more quickly • Mass opinion tends to stay supportive of the war/soldiers

  20. Mass Public Opinion vs. Elite Opinion • General trends • elites • more liberal and internationalist view • favor giving economic aid • favor defending allies • mass opinion • less internationalist • want to keep economic aid in America • protectionist economic policies

  21. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites • Elite Opinion • more importance • mass opinion agrees with actions without directing action • deeply divided • includes • members of government • key private organizations (think tanks) • media

  22. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites • Worldview • an idea of • critical problems facing the USA • decent solutions to those problems • becomes dominant when world events seem to support the view

  23. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites • Worldview • evolution of modern views • Isolationist • memories of WWI • opposition to getting involved in foreign conflicts

  24. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites • Worldview • evolution of modern views • containment • post-WWII • anti-appeasement • looking to be strong and not weak in face of aggression • policy to contain aggressive expansion of non-friendly nations (USSR)

  25. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites • Worldview • evolution of modern views • disengagement • post-Vietnam • we acted correctly, just not with enough strength • we acted correctly, just not in the right place • we didn’t act correctly, universal containment is a failed policy • “new isolationism” • military actions evaluated as a potential Vietnam

  26. Cleavages Among Foreign Policy Elites • Worldview • evolution of modern views • human rights • confront groups violating human rights • especially • European (cynical view) • acts of genocide or “ethnic cleansing”

  27. The Use of Military Force • USA as a great military power is still important • many nations, some hostile, have nukes • Majoritarian view • many pay with taxes toward military strength • many benefit • our nation • our allies

  28. The Use of Military Force • Client politics • many pay • few benefit • the military • the corporations supplying the military • the politicians whose districts house military facilities • Military-Industrial Complex • a unified bloc • military brass • defense contractors

  29. The Defense Budget • total spending • most of history • small percent of GNP • arm for wars • disarm afterward • Post WW II • slight decline • up again for Korea • stayed up • driven by policy of containment

  30. The Defense Budget • Total spending • Most Americans believe • we are spending about right • or too little • Debate still rages about being the World’s Policeman

  31. The Defense Budget • Where does the money go? • personnel • volunteer army • number of women has grown • gays in the military • banned • don’t ask, don’t tell • ban lifted (2011)

  32. The Defense Budget • Where does the money go? • Big-Ticket Items • Cost overruns • difficult to predict costs in the future (during construction) • incentive to understate costs to get approval in the first place • Gold Plating the projects • get the best of everything all at once

  33. The Defense Budget • Where does the money go? • Big-Ticket Items • Cost overruns • no competition between companies once the contract is awarded • stretch out the contract over many years • gives appearance of cutting the budget • only kicks the costs down the road where inflation raises costs

  34. The Defense Budget • Where does the money go? • Small-Ticket Items • normal goods are not the issue • specially designed accessories for the big-ticket item IS the problem • Readiness • low priority • Congressmen fight to keep plants and bases • no one fights for readiness • readiness cuts show immediate results (looks good)

  35. The Defense Budget • Where does the money go? • Bases • systematic decision making on base closing • 1988 • Commission on Base Realignment and Closure • recommendations sent to Congress • all or nothing • no changes

  36. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Civilian Control • elected president is C-I-C • Civilian posts • secretary of defense • secretary of the army • secretary of the navy (also MANAGES Marine Corps) • secretary of the air force

  37. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Civilian Control • Command Structure • President is C-I-C • secretary of defense command authority over national defense • branch secretaries enact policies of the above

  38. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Civilian Control • The four branches • separate entities • civilian fear of becoming too strong if united into one • branches retain own • traditions • power structures

  39. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Civilian Control • The four branches • leads to conflict • good effects • varied views to create over-all picture • Congress has more access points to control the military

  40. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Joint Chiefs of Staff • active heads of the four branches • presidential appointed and Senate confirmed • chairman • vice chairman • powers • no command power • key role in defense planning • presidential advisory board

  41. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Joint Chiefs of Staff • hierarchy • Chairman is in charge • heads work for chairman (not for the branches)

  42. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • The Services • each service headed by • Civilian secretary • purchasing • Congressional relations • public relations • Military chief • discipline • training

  43. The Structure of Defense Decision-Making • Chain of Command

  44. The New Problem of Terrorism • Bipolar World • USA • USSR • Tripolar World? • USA • USSR • PRC • Unipolar World • US is only superpower left • terrorism can still strike

  45. The New Problem of Terrorism • New Policy – Doctrine of Preemption • US will actively engage terrorist threats • before they can fully grow • we will act alone if needed

  46. The New Problem of Terrorism • New Policy – Doctrine of Preemption • Supporters • will protect Americans • before terrorists can attack us at home • Critics • justification for unjust wars • ignores United Nations

  47. The New Problem of Terrorism • New Policy – Doctrine of Preemption • Lessons • do not leave a country too quickly • rebuilding takes a long time • act in a coordinated manner • civilian • military

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