The document discusses key aspects of US foreign policy including defining foreign policy as a nation's external goals and strategies. It outlines tools of diplomacy, economic aid, and technical assistance. It also discusses national security policy focused on protecting independence and integrity. The Constitution created tension around presidential and congressional influence over foreign policy with powers shared across executive agencies and Congress. Historical contexts are reviewed from isolationism to internationalism through major events like the World Wars and Cold War.

1. Foreign Policy
Chapter 15

2. Foreign Policy
 Foreign Policy – a nation’s external goals and the techniques
and strategies used to acquire them
 How do we carry out foreign policy in America?
 Diplomacy – process by which states carry on political relations
with each other; settling conflicts among nations by peaceful
means
 Economic Aid – assistance to other nations in the form of
grants, loans, or credits
 Technical Assistance – practice of sending experts in specialized
areas to aid other nations

3. National Security Policy
 National Security Policy – foreign and domestic policy
designed to protect the nation’s independence and political
and economic integrity
 Policy that is concerned with the safety and defense of the nation
 Defense Policy
 Subset of national security policy
 Typically refers to a set of policies that direct the nature and
activities of the U.S. armed forces

4. Morality v. Reality in Foreign Policy
 Moral Idealism – philosophy that sees nations as normally
willing to cooperate and agree on moral standards and
conduct
 Political Realism – philosophy that sees each nation acting
principally in its own interest
 Where does American stand?
 Mixture of both
 Manifest Destiny, WWI, WWII, etc.

5. Who Makes Foreign Policy?
 The Constitution created an “invitation to struggle” regarding
presidential and Congressional influence over foreign policy
 Presidential Powers
 War Powers
 Executive Agreements/Treaties
 Other Executive Agencies
 Department of State – primary authority over foreign affairs
 National Security Council -- advises the president on the integration
of “domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to national
security”

6. Who Makes Foreign Policy?
 Other Executive Agencies
 Intelligence Community – collection of government agencies that
gather information about the capabilities and intentions of foreign
governments or that engage in covert actions
 Department of Defense – created to bring all the various activities
of the U.S. military under the jurisdiction of a single department
headed by a civilian secretary of defense
 Congressional Authority
 War Powers Resolution of 1973
 Power of the Purse

7. Foreign Policy in Historical Context
 The Early Years (1791-1820)
 Theme: Avoid Entanglements
 Lack of international power and fear of European governments
lead America to vow to avoid conflicts and exchanges with
Europe
 However, we cannot stay away for too long
 XYZ Affair, Louisiana Purchase, War of 1812

8. Foreign Policy in Historical Context
 The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
 Isolationist foreign policy statement that stated:
 European nations should not establish new colonies in the Western
Hemisphere
 European nations should not intervene in the affairs of independent
nations in the Western Hemisphere
 United States would not interfere in the affairs of European nations
 Policy continued until the end of the 1800s

9. Foreign Policy in Historical Context
 Manifest Destiny Turns to Internationalism
 Spanish-American War
 Taking Manifest Destiny abroad (winning Guam, Puerto Rico, and the
Philippines)
 World War I
 Isolationist policy returns
 We only respond because of the perceived global threat (and
President Wilson’s influence)

10. Foreign Policy in Historical Context
 World War II
 A total and absolute threat requires a total and absolute response
 Pearl Harbor puts America on the offensive; isolationism disappears
 America’s use of the A-Bomb propels us to superpower status and ultimately
fosters paranoia with the Soviet Union
 The Cold War
 Soviet Containment (Truman Doctrine)
 Arms Race and the Space Race
 Cuban Missile Crisis
 Détente and SALT treaties
 SDI “Star Wars” program
 Dissolution of the Soviet Union