Foreign Policy Chapter 1

Foreign Policy

A country's foreign policy consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests & to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries. In recent times, due to the deepening level of globalization & transnational activities, the states will also have to interact with non-state actors.

Free Trade

A policy by which a gov't does not discriminate against imports or interfere with exports by applying tariffs (to imports) or subsidies (to exports) or quotas. According to the law of comparative advantage, the policy permits trading partners mutual gains from trade of goods and services. Under this policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation.

The Cold War

A sustained state of political & military tension between the powers of the Western world led by the U.S. and its NATO allies and the communist world led by the USSR, its satellite states & allies. This began after the success of their temporary wartime alliance against Nazi Germany, leaving the USSR and the US as two super powers with profound economic and political differences. The Soviet Union created the Eastern Bloc with the Eastern European countries it occupied, maintaining these as satellite states.

Quasi anarchy

Absence of a recognized central governing authority in the international

Principles

This refers to what the US stands for - its values, ideas, and beliefs. Democratic idealism emphasizes these principles that are rooted in American history. Also the right and the might of the US.

Realism

a theory of international relations that prioritizes national interest and security over ideology, moral concerns and social reconstructions. This ideology is often synonymous with power politics. It focuses on the tendency of nations to operate from self-interest. To conduct foreign policy in the world only to protect and benefit yourself. (Contrast with idealism) States pursue their own interests through the pursuit of power - as power is necessary for states to ensure their security.

Peace

All national interests ultimately are about obtaining and peace. Int'l institutions share the importance of peace Perpetual peace refers to the state of affairs where peace is permanently established over a certain area. (has never been achieved)

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Also known as the October Crisis in Cuba, and the Caribbean Crisis in the USSR, it was a 13 day confrontation between the USSR and Cuba on one side, and the US on the other. The crisis occurred in October, 1962 during the heart of the Cold War. In August of 1962, after some unsuccessful operations by the US to overthrow the Cuban Regime (Bay of Pigs, Operation Mongoose), the Cuban and Soviet gov'ts secretly began to build bases in Cuba for a number of medium range and intermediate range ballistic nuclear missiles with the ability to strike most of the continental US. This action followed the 1958 of Thor IBRMs in the United Kingdom (project Emily) and Jupiter IRBS to Turkey and Italy in 1961 - more than 100 US built missiles having the ability to strike Moscow with nuclear warheads.

United Nations

An international organization who's stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, & achievement of world peace. It was founded in 1945, after WWII to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, & to provide a platform for dialogue. It contains multiple subsidiary organizations to carry out its missions.

Why do American Leaders stress the importance of an engaged America in the post Cold War world? (5 reasons)

I. Security Threats: if we create successful relations with other countries, it will help decrease security threats to the US. 2. Economic Interests: The American economy is more dependent on the global economy than ever before. 3. What used to be Domestic issues are now international issues. 4. Diversification of the American population. This impacts not only domestic issues but international issues facing the US. 5. The US can not uphold its values if it doesn't take action when those values are threatened elsewhere in the world.

system structure

It is based on the distribution of power among the major states in the international system. A bipolar (2) system- or a multipolar (3 or more) system refer to the number of powers involved. Where a state ranks in the systems affects what it can do & how effective it can be in foreign policy terms. Where a state ranks in the structure determines their policy and allows all other participants to know their foreign policy strategies. Jentleson believes that system structure should be a context for - not a determinant of, choices in foreign policy strategy.

According to Jentleson, why is American foreign policy important?

It is important because it shows choices. Setting the strategy shows that we have choices and the politics of it all is the process of picking a choice. The choices made will impact the American society.

Anti-globalization Movement

Is critical of the globalization of corporate capitalism. The movement is also commonly referred to as the global justice movement, alter-globalization movement, anti-globalist movement, etc. Participants base their criticisms on a number of related ideas.

The four P's of international relations

Power, Peace, Prosperity, Principles These are the baseline for most foreign policies.

Power

The realist school of international relations emphasizes the importance of power. Power is what maintains a strong defense system. States pursue their own interests through the pursuit of power. As states need to accumulate power to ensure their security.

Prosperity

The state of flourishing, thriving, good-fortune and/or successful social status. It often encompasses wealth, but also includes other factors, which are independent of wealth to varying degrees such as happiness & health. Competing notions of prosperity. Economic notions of prosperity often compete or interact negatively with health, happiness, or spiritual notions of prosperity.