foreign and military policy

Chapter 20Chapter 20Foreign and Foreign and

Military PolicyMilitary Policy

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1.1. Is American foreign policy set by public Is American foreign policy set by public

wishes or elite views?wishes or elite views?

2.2. If only Congress can declare war, why If only Congress can declare war, why has the president become so powerful has the president become so powerful in military affairs?in military affairs?

TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?1.1. Why do we go to war against some Why do we go to war against some

dictatorships and not others?dictatorships and not others?

2.2. Should our foreign policy be based on Should our foreign policy be based on American interests or some conception American interests or some conception of human rights?of human rights?

Kinds of Foreign PolicyKinds of Foreign Policy

Majoritarian PoliticsMajoritarian Politics• Decision to go to warDecision to go to war

Interest Group PoliticsInterest Group Politics• Decisions regarding Decisions regarding

tariffstariffs Client PoliticsClient Politics

• Aid to American business Aid to American business abroadabroad


Benjamin Netanyahubecame prime minister of Israel in 2009. Source: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters/Landov

The Constitutional and Legal The Constitutional and Legal ContextContext

Presidential Box ScorePresidential Box Score Evaluating the Power Evaluating the Power

of the Presidentof the President Checks on Presidential Checks on Presidential

PowerPower• LimitationsLimitations• The War Powers ActThe War Powers Act• Intelligence OversightIntelligence Oversight


Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt ordered all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast be interned in prison camps. p. 531

National Archives

The Machinery of Foreign PolicyThe Machinery of Foreign Policy

Expansion after WWIIExpansion after WWII• The president put foreign policy at top The president put foreign policy at top

of the agendaof the agenda• Policy was shaped by scores of agenciesPolicy was shaped by scores of agencies

Rivalries Rivalries withinwithin the executive branch the executive branch intensify rivalries intensify rivalries betweenbetween that that branch and Congressbranch and Congress

Interests of the various organizations Interests of the various organizations affect the positions they takeaffect the positions they take


Foreign Policy and Public Foreign Policy and Public OpinionOpinion

World War IIWorld War II VietnamVietnam September 11, 2001September 11, 2001 Backing the PresidentBacking the President Mass versus Elite Mass versus Elite

OpinionOpinion


Candlelight vigil supporting American troops serving overseas. p. 534

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images


p. 535 Source: Updated from Theodore J. Lowi, The End of Liberalism (New York: Norton, 1969), 184. Poll data are from Gallup poll. Time lapse between “before” and “after” samplings of opinion was in no case more than one month.


Source: Global Views 2004 (Chicago: Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, 2004).

Cleavages AmongCleavages AmongForeign Policy ElitesForeign Policy Elites

How a worldview How a worldview shapes foreign policyshapes foreign policy• IsolationismIsolationism• ContainmentContainment• DisengagementDisengagement• Human RightsHuman Rights

Political PolarizationPolitical Polarization


A meeting that named an era: in Munich in 1938, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain attempted to appease the territorial ambitions of Hitler. Chamberlain’s failure brought World War II closer. p. 538 Source: Corbis

The Use of Military ForceThe Use of Military Force

Two views of the role of the Two views of the role of the militarymilitary• MajoritarianMajoritarian• Client Client

Military-industrial complexMilitary-industrial complex War in IraqWar in Iraq


U.S. Military Intervention in the Middle EastU.S. Military Intervention in the Middle East


The Defense BudgetThe Defense Budget

Total SpendingTotal Spending What do we get with our money?What do we get with our money?

• PersonnelPersonnel• Big Ticket ItemsBig Ticket Items

Cost OverrunsCost Overruns Gold platingGold plating

• ReadinessReadiness• BasesBases


U.S. Military Intervention in Central America U.S. Military Intervention in Central America and the Caribbean Since 1950and the Caribbean Since 1950


Figure 20.1 Trends in Military Figure 20.1 Trends in Military Spending (constant dollars)Spending (constant dollars)


p. 544Source: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), “National

Defense Budget Estimates for FY 2007.”

Figure 20.2 Most Americans Think National Figure 20.2 Most Americans Think National Defense Is Either “About Right” Defense Is Either “About Right”

or “Not Strong Enough”or “Not Strong Enough”


Source: Gallup Poll


Source: Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998, 363.


The United States has tried The United States has tried to decide whether to build to decide whether to build interceptorsinterceptorslike this one to shoot down like this one to shoot down incoming missiles from incoming missiles from enemies. p. 546 Source: enemies. p. 546 Source: Vanderberg Air Force BaseVanderberg Air Force Base

Women in training for Women in training for the armed forces. p. the armed forces. p. 546 Source: Richard 546 Source: Richard Ellis/CorbisEllis/Corbis

Gays campaign for Gays campaign for greater acceptancegreater acceptancein the armed forces. in the armed forces. p. 546 Source: C. p. 546 Source: C. Nicklas HillNicklas Hill

The Structure of Defense The Structure of Defense Decision MakingDecision Making

National Security Act of 1947National Security Act of 1947 Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of Staff The ServicesThe Services The Chain of CommandThe Chain of Command

• President – Commander-in-ChiefPresident – Commander-in-Chief• Secretary of DefenseSecretary of Defense


The New Problem of TerrorismThe New Problem of Terrorism

Bipolar world Bipolar world – A political landscape – A political landscape with two superpowerswith two superpowers

Unipolar world Unipolar world – A political landscape – A political landscape with one superpowerwith one superpower

Doctrine of preemption Doctrine of preemption – attacking a – attacking a determined enemy before they can determined enemy before they can attack us or an allyattack us or an ally

Iraq and AfghanistanIraq and Afghanistan


M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M

To: To: The presidentThe president

From: From: National security adviserNational security adviser

Subject: Subject: HostagesHostages

The six Americans held hostage in the Middle East are The six Americans held hostage in the Middle East are beginning their second year of captivity. One, a CIA officer, beginning their second year of captivity. One, a CIA officer, is undergoing torture. It has been the policy of this is undergoing torture. It has been the policy of this administration not to negotiate with terrorists. Criticism of administration not to negotiate with terrorists. Criticism of this refusal is being heard from hostage families and their this refusal is being heard from hostage families and their sympathizers. The terrorist groups are demanding that we sympathizers. The terrorist groups are demanding that we end our support of Israel. A government in the region has end our support of Israel. A government in the region has secretly indicated that, in exchange for military supplies, it secretly indicated that, in exchange for military supplies, it may be able to help win the release of “some” hostages.may be able to help win the release of “some” hostages.


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your options:Your options:

1. Maintain the “no-negotiations” policy but use quiet diplomacy with 1. Maintain the “no-negotiations” policy but use quiet diplomacy with friendly nations in the region to see whether they can intercede friendly nations in the region to see whether they can intercede with the terrorist groups on behalf of the hostages.with the terrorist groups on behalf of the hostages.

AdvantagesAdvantages: (a) Our “no-negotiations” policy remains credible, and : (a) Our “no-negotiations” policy remains credible, and this will deter other terrorist groups from thinking that they can this will deter other terrorist groups from thinking that they can win concessions by capturing Americans. (b) This policy is win concessions by capturing Americans. (b) This policy is consistent with our insistence that U.S. allies not negotiate with consistent with our insistence that U.S. allies not negotiate with terrorists.terrorists.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages: (a) There is no evidence that our traditional policy : (a) There is no evidence that our traditional policy will get the hostages released. (b) Public sympathy for the will get the hostages released. (b) Public sympathy for the hostages may increase, and this will lead to more criticism of this hostages may increase, and this will lead to more criticism of this administration for failing to free captive Americans.administration for failing to free captive Americans.



Your options:Your options:

2. Secretly exchange arms for the release of Americans. 2. Secretly exchange arms for the release of Americans.

AdvantagesAdvantages: (a) Some or all hostages may be released. (b) We may : (a) Some or all hostages may be released. (b) We may earn the goodwill of more moderate elements in the area and earn the goodwill of more moderate elements in the area and thereby increase our influence there.thereby increase our influence there.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages: (a) We may deliver arms and no hostages will be : (a) We may deliver arms and no hostages will be released. (b) If secret arms deliveries become public, we will be released. (b) If secret arms deliveries become public, we will be heavily criticized for abandoning our “no-negotiations” policy.heavily criticized for abandoning our “no-negotiations” policy.

3. Use military units to find and free the hostages.3. Use military units to find and free the hostages.

AdvantageAdvantage: The hostages may be freed without our having to make : The hostages may be freed without our having to make any concessions.any concessions.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages: (a) The military is not optimistic that it can find and : (a) The military is not optimistic that it can find and free the hostages, who are being kept in hidden, scattered sites. free the hostages, who are being kept in hidden, scattered sites. (b) The hostages may be killed during the rescue effort.(b) The hostages may be killed during the rescue effort.



Your decision:Your decision:

Option 1 _________________ Option 1 _________________

Option 2 _________________ Option 2 _________________

Option 3 _________________Option 3 _________________



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