American Foreign Policy
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Transcript of American Foreign Policy
American American Foreign PolicyForeign Policy
KEY QUESTIONSKEY QUESTIONSTo be answered by end of To be answered by end of
lesson…lesson…
• What is foreign policy? • What should be the goal of a nation’s foreign
policy? America’s? • Why and how has America’s role in foreign
affairs changed over the course of history? • What role does history play in determining
foreign policy? What role should it play?• What factors should government officials
consider when deciding whether or not to involve America in matters abroad?
What is foreign policy?What is foreign policy?• It is how the US
govt. deals with other countries in trade, war, & peace
• Important questions in US foreign policy shape US treatment of other countries
What is foreign What is foreign policy? (cont.)policy? (cont.)
• Over time, the 2 most important questions that guide US foreign policy (FP) are– Isolation v.
intervention debate– Concern for ourselves
or for citizens of other countries?
US marines in Fallujah (Iraq)
Logo for Save Darfur Coalition
Question:Question:What should the role of the What should the role of the
United States be in the United States be in the world?world? Should we stay out of everyone’s business? Should we be the world’s policeman?
What do you think? Why?
How does a nation determine its foreign
policy goals?
This must be determined step by step. First, what is
a nation?•a territorial division
containing a body of people of a single culture and is usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status
and what is nationalismMerriam-Webster defines it as:1. loyalty and devotion to a nation;
especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups
2. a nationalist movement or government
Now that we know what a nation is… what
nationalism is… what is national interest?• It is defined as “the country’s
perceived needs and aspirations in relation to other sovereign states constituting the external environment.” It can relate to– Economic interests– Power/survival– Morality/power– Realistic/idealistic considerations
What are the basic national interests of the
United States?
MOST VITAL
LEAST VITAL
Survival Interest
Peripheral Interest
Vital Interest
Major Interest
Can you think of examples of these different types of interests?
Why and how has America’s role in foreign affairs changed over the
course of history?
Why does America’s FP Why does America’s FP change?change?
1. World events/US strength2. Domestic needs3. Political attitudes of the
people4. Political attitudes of
Congress5. Economic trends6. Presidential visions for
America’s role in the world
Phases of American FPPhases of American FP
• 1780s-1840s: ISOLATION & NEUTRALITY
• 1840s-1910s: EXPANSIONISM & IMPERIALISM
• 1914-1917: NEUTRALITY• 1917-1920: INTERVENTION• 1920- late 1930s: ISOLATION &
NEUTRALITY
Phases of American FP Phases of American FP (cont.)(cont.)
• Late 1930s-1945: INTERVENTION• 1945-1975: CONTAINMENT of
COMMUNISM, NUCLEAR ARMS RACE
• 1975-1990: DÉTENTE/COVERT ACTION
• 1990-2001: STABILIZING MIDDLE EAST
• 2001-Present: WAR ON TERRORISM
What factors should government officials
consider when deciding whether or not to involve
America in matters abroad? We’ll return to
this question…
What role should history play in determining
foreign policy?• Actively read “They Will Have Flies Walking
Across Their Eyeballs” from Stephen Kinzer’s Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.
• Select at least 10 examples from the chapter that stand out to you about how America’s foreign policy over the course of history has impacted recent events.
• We will have an inner/outer discussion on your findings, and then we’ll draw conclusions about the “big” question.