Foreign Policy: Promoting Internationalism and Protecting National Interests

1. Chapter 12 - Internationalism & Foreign Policy

2. What is Foreign Policy? • Foreign policy dictates how a country will act with respect to other countries politically, socially, economically, and militarily. • Also known as diplomacy. • Often aimed at protecting national interests. • Foreign policy can promote both national interest and internationalism...

3. Who makes Foreign Policy? • Politicians, diplomats & experts in foreign relations develop it. • It is easy to make foreign policy in countries that are ruled by a dictator, king, military junta (committee of military leaders) as they do not consult the people! • It is harder in a democracy, as foreign policy is supposed to reflect the beliefs, values & goals of it’s citizens - so individuals, collectives & groups in the country can influence foreign policy. Groups like lobby groups like Amnesty International that send letters to MP’s influence their decision making. • Globalization has changed international politics; the world is smaller and more interconnected. Multinational corporations, international business, labour and humanitarian organizations now have more influence on foreign policy decisions.

4. Consider... • What is the cartoonist saying about foreign policy?

5. How can nation-states promote internationalism through Foreign Policy? • Examples include: • Peacekeeping - Countries work together in an attempt to bring peace to conflict stricken areas - Even old enemies - Russia & USA • International Law - Every nation-state is responsible for ensuring they hold up to these laws, like the “Law of the Sea” - which says any & all ships are to respond to any ship’s distress signal on the oceans. • Foreign Aid - By countries chipping in to help poor or distressed countries, they learn to work together and this promotes better relationships - e.g. - The World Food Programme

6. Creating Peace • Two tools of foreign policy that nations use to build peace are: • Incentives - offering closer international relations, provided certain conditions are met - e.g. - loans, aid, trade - it may allow a country to become more wealthy or progress. • Sanctions - cutting off relations, such as trade, with a state until hostile behaviour stops. The hope is this will cause too much pain for a country, and they’ll give in. Controversial - often in dictatorships, they don’t care about their own people, so the leaders never suffer, just the people - e.g. - Iraq with Hussein.

7. Peacekeeping Peacekeeping - Used by the UN’s Security Council - those countries - China, USA, France, Britain, & Russia - they monitor on where potential crises are and send in peacekeepers as a last resort. All UN nations must put soldiers up for use as peacekeepers, yet their own country decides which missions to go on. Canada has been in 50 missions, with 125 000 troops over the past 50 years. Peacekeepers: • Are sent to conflict zones only after a ceasefire happens • They patrol a buffer zone - where either warring side can not be in, and keep these groups apart until la lasting peace is negotiated. • Protect humanitarian workers • Only fire in self-defense • Have consent - respect the sovereignty of the host country • Be impartial - not take sides

8. Problems with Peacekeeping • Warring sides can start fighting again - catching peacekeepers in the middle • Warring sides sometimes attack peacekeepers • Diplomats may not be able to find a solution - peacekeepers end up staying indefinitely - e.g. In Cyprus since 1964 • Warring sides sometimes start killing civilians - peacekeepers are not allowed to act. E.g. Rwanda and Yugoslavia • Peacemaking means use force to stop a conflict and going into countries even if they are not invited. They don’t remain neutral. They shoot to kill.

9. Inquiry • What is the ICC? Why do countries like the US not recognize this court? • What is the International Law of the Sea? •  Why is Antarctica considered an International Continent? • What did the 46 countries that signed Antarctic Treaty agree to?

10. International Law & Agreements • Sometimes the foreign policies of various countries comes into conflict. Having international law will help prevent war. • The UN has the ICC - International Court of Justice or World Court to deal with disputes. Yet , countries like the USA do NOT recognize the court because they don’t want to give up their right to make their own decisions. • A good example is the International Law of the Sea - where every country has 22 km’s off their coastline as part of their territory while they have the sole right to control fishing, mining, and the environment in an area of up to 370 km’s off their coast. • There are international agreements to make Antarctica an international continent, with no mining, just their for peaceful purposes and study. The Arctic however is hotly disputed with the Russians claiming that the North Pole is an extension of it’s own country. Others dispute this.

11. Foreign Aid • The 0.7% Solution - PM Pearson in 1969 proposed that all the rich nations in the world give 0.7% of their GNI - Gross National Income to foreign aid. GNI refers to the total value of goods & services produced by a country/year, either inside or outside their borders. • GNI for foreign aid in Canada was 0.33% - half of the target • Many individuals think Canada should not give anymore… • When an internationalist approach is used, often the results are better – For instance, when the Red Cross works “on the ground”, they know where the money should go and what works best for the people they are helping.

12. Criticism of Foreign Aid Policy • Humanitarianism is usually the main motive in providing aid. However, new strategies are causing great alarm with aid, such as: • Competing Motives – Countries provide aid to only wartime allies or where they have investments, not where the $ is needed most. • Tied Aid – Strings are attached – You get aid if and only if you buy goods needed from that donor country. E.g. Buying food from only the donor, while food grown locally is much cheaper – Why is this better for the poor country? • Lack of Consultation – The aid provided is not what the people need • Complex Delivery Systems – Often countries have to go through a dozen agencies just to get aid – very frustrating and delaying to their needs.

13. Criticisms con’t • Bureaucracy – (Layers of Government that aid money flows through) This slows the flow of aid, & much aid money is spent on administration. • Corruption – Officials in the country that need the aid, often take the money/resources for themselves, instead of giving it to those in need. • Brain Drain – Often the smartest of those in poor countries work for the aid agencies, whereby they aren’t helping directly in their own country, by starting businesses or changing their country.

14. How does Canadian Foreign Policy Promote Both National Interest & Internationalism? • Canada tries to promote both National Interest & Internationalism. For example, we have trade agreements which are a form of internationalism. They make for trading partners that co-operate to increase trade. It is also in our national interest, because it creates a stronger economy. • Foreign Aid also promotes internationalism, as many countries work together to help those less fortunate. This also serves our national interest & reflects Canadian values by creating a safer, more secure & more prosperous world. • The Ottawa Treaty on reduction & disarming of Landmines is a good example of Canada serving its national interest by promoting internationalism. How is it in our interest to do so?