US Foreign Policy: Part IUS Foreign Policy: Part I

Who is involved in formulating US foreign policy?

What ideas are fundamental in foreign policy creation?

Global PerspectiveGlobal Perspective

DefinitionDefinition

Foreign Policy- A nation’s external goals and the techniques

and strategies used to achieve them. (Schmidt et. al)

Policymaking Process Policymaking Process

Policy Formation

Policy Evaluation

Agenda Setting

Policy Adoption

Implementation

Foreign Policy Change Foreign Policy Change

Source of policy change is external “Geographical ‘realities’ and ideological

challenges from potential aggressors” (Kegley and Wittkopf)

Includes all factors “of America’s external environment or any actions occurring abroad that…influence the choices made by its officials” (Rosenau)

Institutions StruggleInstitutions Struggle

Institutions: Policy FormationInstitutions: Policy Formation

Government Institutions in Policy Formation Invitation to Struggle

“America’s unique constitutional system creates an ‘invitation to struggle’ between the president and Congress in the foreign policy process” (Crabb and Holt)– Federal structure of national, state and local levels – Three branches of government – Competing bureaucratic agencies

Institutions: Struggle for Influence

Institutions: Struggle for Influence

Executive/Congressional relations may be described as exhibiting a “pendulum or cyclical effect”

Phases of Executive / Congressional Relations:

Up until WW II: Congress played limited role 1945 – late 1950s: Collaboration 1960s – early 1970s: Imperial Presidency

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1964 1973 – 1980s: Congress re-asserts itself

War Powers Act- 60 day limit 1980- present: Tense Sharing of Responsibility

Institutions: Foreign Policy Formation

Institutions: Foreign Policy Formation

Institutions Executive Branch

President Constitutional Powers

– Commander and chief of the armed forces

– Make treaties– Appoint ambassadors

and executive officers– Receive/refuse to

receive ambassadors Joint Chief of Staff Secretary of State Secretary of Defense National Security Advisor

Institutions: Policy FormationInstitutions: Policy Formation

Institutions Bureaucratic politics

model “Where you stand

depends on where you sit”

Competition for power and influence

Pentagon CIA FBI Intelligence community Department of Defense Department of State

Institutions: Policy FormationInstitutions: Policy Formation

Institutions Congress

Constitutional Powers Power to declare war Power of the purse Responsible for raising and supporting the armed

forces Legislative power

Interest Interest

Interests: Policy FormationInterests: Policy Formation

Increasing voice of domestic and foreign interest groups

Domestic and foreign policy issues are related

Increasingly interconnected

Military Industrial Complex

Defence industry Peace Groups

The Quakers The Raging Grannies

Interests: Defense Industry Influence

Interests: Defense Industry Influence

Company Profits in 2006

(in millions)

Percentage Change From 2004

Lockheed Martin

1,825 44%

Boeing 2,572 37%

Raytheon 871 109%

(Fortune 500 website)

Ideas: Policy FormationIdeas: Policy Formation

Moral Idealism “American National Style”

Moralistic– Moral mission – Immorality of communism

Liberalism America as a unique state

– Europe and War; U.S. and Peace

Advocate of Middle-Class Capitalism Consent of the majority

Ideas: Policy FormationIdeas: Policy Formation

Realism Nations act in own interest

World is a dangerous place– Act to survive

Policy based on basic cold calculations without regards to morals

Must be militarily prepared because other nations are also self interested

Ideas: Policy FormationIdeas: Policy Formation

Neo-realism (Structural realism) The international structure constrains state

behavior. The structure then limits cooperation among

states through fears of relative gains made by other states, and the possibility of dependence on other states.

Violence is part of the structure of the international system it is likely to continue in the future.

Ideas: Policy FormationIdeas: Policy Formation

The sources of ideology Individual (personality) Source

Personal makeup makes a difference in the kinds of decisions that are made– Clinton Doctrine- national interest partly in terms of

humanitarian interventions– Bush Doctrine- National interest may require pre-

emption However, “individuals’ influence [over] foreign

policy outcomes are likely to be much subtler than popular impressions would have us believe” (K/W)

Bush’s Personality Bush’s Personality

Political Cartoon

Implementation: Foreign Policy Implementation: Foreign Policy

Actions Carrot- persuade foreign

nation with non-aggressive means

Trade agreements Economic aid Technical assistance Economic Sanctions Diplomacy

Stick-persuade foreign nations through aggressive means

Military Intervention

QuizQuiz

Which most greatly influences foreign policy creation, institution, ideas, or interest?