200 likes | 289 Views
Government and Politics of the USA Hillary Term, Lecture 25. American Foreign Policy. Dr Andrew Glencross ~ andrew.glencross@eui.eu. Submit essay online via www.turnitin.com and hard copy to Jane Suiter - Deadline: 5pm, Monday 10 th of March (Hillary term wk 10)
E N D
Government and Politics of the USA Hillary Term, Lecture 25 American Foreign Policy Dr Andrew Glencross ~ andrew.glencross@eui.eu
Submit essay online via www.turnitin.comand hard copy to Jane Suiter - Deadline: 5pm, Monday 10th of March (Hillary term wk 10) Choose 1 of 3 titles; strict2,000 word limit (excluding bibliography) “In practice, Congress functions not as a unified institution, but as a collection of semi-autonomous committees that seldom act in unison“. Discuss this view, and explain your response. What are the consequences of pluralism and federalism for the policy-making process in the US? Evaluate these consequences with reference to at least two policy areas. Discuss the role played by money in US Presidential elections. Elaborate your response in the context of attempts at campaign finance reform since the 1970s and the 2008 Presidential election. Details on course website - http://uspoliticstcd.pbwiki.com/Course-assessment Hillary Term Essay
Required reading… McKay chap. 18 Singh chap. 14 Additional resources… Patrick Callahan, Logics of American Foreign Policy (PL-427-439) John Lewis Gaddis, The Cold War (909.82 P51) Robert Kagan, Dangerous Nation: America in the World, 1600-1898 (HL-294-106) Readings for today
Realism: ‘the belief that states are primarily motivated by the desire for military and economic power or security, not ideals or ethics’ Idealism: ‘the belief that a state should export its values and institutions to benefit other countries and international society’ Definitions
America’s Global Role Current Issues in American Foreign Policy How is Foreign Policy Conducted? Interest Groups and Foreign Policy Evaluating the Recent Success of Foreign Policy Foreign Policy and the 2008 Election Agenda
Military Economic Cultural America’s Global Role
Called upon to intervene in case of war between states (Israel/Palestine, Iraq/Koweit) or state collapse, e.g. Haiti, Somalia Entangled in a complex web of alliances, often based on military aid e.g. Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Columbia Result is often support for dubious regimes and rulers e.g. one-party Taiwan, House of Saud, Mubarak to name but a few examples… America’s Global Role But being a Superpower comes with Responsibilities
Current Issues in American Foreign Policy The role of other actors • Allies: can be a liability as much as an asset e.g. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia • Antagonists: China competing for natural resources and influence in Pacific, Russia opposing US influence in E. Europe and missile defence plans. • Not the End of History: some thought end of Cold War meant triumph of US market democracy, now looks like liberal democracy has serious competitors • Non-state actors: asymmetric warfare, “Kalashnikov revolution”
Primacy of President – Commander in Chief and Negotiates Treaties Supporting Role for Congress – declares war, since 1973 has to be consulted before Pres commits troops, appropriates funds for security and defence, ratifies treaties Importance of Secrecy and Strategy – president has exclusive access to CIA and NSA intel, also has foreign policy team including National Security Advisor How is Foreign Policy Conducted?
Truman – Containment of Soviet Union, continued by Reagan Nixon – ‘we shall look to the nation directly threatened to assume the primary responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense’ Clinton – ‘where our values and our interests are at stake, and where we can make a difference, we must be prepared to do so’ George W. Bush – unilateral pre-emption and ‘US makes no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them’ How is Foreign Policy Conducted? The Importance of Presidential Doctrine
Interest Groups and Foreign Policy • Highly Controversial • Clearest examples: support for Israel, sanctions regime against Cuba • Question is are these an abuse of democracy and against US interests?
Embargo – began 1962 by Executive Order, longest in mod history, prevents trade and travel with Castro’s regime Cuban Exiles – 2 million, mostly around Miami, several waves of immigration from Cuba including 1980 Mariel Boatlift, maintain visceral anti-Castro campaign, sometimes use violence including in US Embargo Reinforced in 1996 to cover foreign subsidiaries of US firms after shooting down of planes flown by exiles Effects: Condemned by UN and Pope for impoverishing economy, resented by US agribusiness and EU for preventing exports Why: 2 Cuban-American US Senators, four in House of Representatives, reverse side of Federalism – interest groups wield disproportionate influence when committed to an issue bulk of people do not care about Interest Groups and Foreign Policy US Relations With Cuba
Aid – largest recipient of economic and military aid since WW2, $140b Diplomatic support – vetoed 32 Security Council resolutions criticising Israel Nuclear Proliferation – turned a blind eye to acquiring atomic weapons Interest Groups and Foreign Policy US Relations With Israel
Consequence – Middle East instability, including Israel-Palestine conflict and spread of nuclear weapons Explanation – partly Israel lobby, e.g. AIPAC, but also supported by Evangelicals (to pave way for second coming) and NeoCons (to protect a democracy). So have coalition of interest groups behind US Israel policy Interest Groups and Foreign Policy
War on Terror? Mired in Afghanistan, no more attacks on US soil, islamic terrorism spread to Pakistan even Europe, still no exit strategy in Iraq Nuclear Proliferation? Seems successful in N. Korea but not Iran Securing Oil? Prices nearing all-time high, switch to economy drive and alternative energy policy Evaluating the Recent Success of Foreign Policy
Middle East? no sign yet of light at the end of the tunnel Spread of Democracy? Pakistan in turmoil, Afghanistan unstable, return of Russia to authoritarianism War on Drugs? no sign of dwindling supply after two decades Evaluating the Recent Success of Foreign Policy
Is the US More Secure After Bush? Are its Interests Abroad better Protected? Continuing attacks on US interests and citizens Are its Allies Safer? Pakistan Evaluating the Recent Success of Foreign Policy
Clinton and Obama tussling over “experience” Republicans stress need for military action; do not exclude use of nuclear weapons Democrats stress need to build bridges with allies and international institutions Iraq seen as litmus test of candidates’ foreign policy stance Clinton who voted for use of force recanted. McCain closely associated with “surge” policy Foreign Policy and the 2008 Election
Foreign Economic Policy (read MHW chap 16, Singh chap 15) Health and Social Policy (read McKay chap 16, Singh chap 17) Keep an Eye on the Primaries 19 February: Hawaii Caucus (D), Washington and Wisconsin Next Week