Understanding US Foreign Policy: Idealism vs. Realism - Prof. Paul Edleman, Study notes of Local Government Studies

Download Understanding US Foreign Policy: Idealism vs. Realism - Prof. Paul Edleman and more Study notes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! 1 n Foreign Policy – How one country interacts with another country or group. Idealism n People are naturally good n World peace can be achieved n War is not a natural part of politics n A moralistic perspective n League of Nations Realism n State as unit of analysis n States compete against each other n State as unitary actor n State speaks with one voice n Power dominates n Military power takes primacy 2 Meaning for US Foreign Policy n Idealist n Humanitarian relief n Third world development n EX: Somalia n Realist n Act in our self interest n Avoid international organizations n EX: Bosnia Problems with Idealism and Realism n Idealism n Too optimistic or moralistic n Realism n Nation does not speak with a single voice n What is the national interest n There is interdependence in the world FP: WWI Era n U.S. not a world power n Isolationism – Strategy designed to keep a nation out of foreign political or economic affairs. 5 FP: Cold War n Cold War Strategies n Role Back • Early strategy • Push communism back n Containment • Primary strategy • Prevent communism from spreading to other countries. FP: Cold War n Cold War Strategies n Truman Doctrine – The policy of the U.S. to help free peoples resist the spread of communism. Targeted toward third world. n Marshall Plan – A plan to help rebuild Europe after WWII. FP: Cold War n Cold War Security n Collective Security – States agree that aggression by one state or alliance against another will be met with a collective response. 6 FP: Cold War n Cold War Security Institutions n NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organization • U.S. & West European democratic societies n Warsaw Pact • Soviet Union and East European communist societies FP: Cold War n Cold War Security Institutions n United Nations • Formed in 1945 • Any nation may be a member • A world forum to discuss international issues and the promotion of world peace • Security council • 15 members • 5 permanent members FP: Cold War n Cold War Economic Institutions n International Monetary Fund (IMF) • Help nations monitor currency rates and manage debt n World Bank • Provides money to poor countries to help them develop n GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) • Promotes free trade between the world’s countries 7 How IMF & WB Work n Currency Devaluation n Fixed Currency n Floating Currency n Monetary Policy n Monetary policy deals with the money supply or the amount of money in circulation. n Fiscal Policy n The budget: how much you spend and how much you bring in. FP: Post-Cold War n Post Cold War Years n Economics take primacy n Interdependence n Unipolar world (US) n Spread of weapons of mass destruction • Iraq and the Gulf War Cold War Institutions & the Post Cold War World n Peace keeping institutions n NATO n United Nations n Economic institutions n International Monetary Fund (IMF) n World Bank n World Trade Organization (WTO)