American American Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

KEY QUESTIONSKEY QUESTIONSTo be answered by end of To be answered by end of

lesson…lesson…

• What is foreign policy? • What should be the goal of a nation’s foreign

policy? America’s? • Why and how has America’s role in foreign

affairs changed over the course of history? • What role does history play in determining

foreign policy? What role should it play?• What factors should government officials

consider when deciding whether or not to involve America in matters abroad?

What is foreign policy?What is foreign policy?• It is how the US

govt. deals with other countries in trade, war, & peace

• Important questions in US foreign policy shape US treatment of other countries

What is foreign What is foreign policy? (cont.)policy? (cont.)

• Over time, the 2 most important questions that guide US foreign policy (FP) are– Isolation v.

intervention debate– Concern for ourselves

or for citizens of other countries?

US marines in Fallujah (Iraq)

Logo for Save Darfur Coalition

Question:Question:What should the role of the What should the role of the

United States be in the United States be in the world?world? Should we stay out of everyone’s business? Should we be the world’s policeman?

What do you think? Why?

How does a nation determine its foreign

policy goals?

This must be determined step by step. First, what is

a nation?•a territorial division

containing a body of people of a single culture and is usually characterized by relatively large size and independent status

and what is nationalismMerriam-Webster defines it as:1. loyalty and devotion to a nation;

especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups

2. a nationalist movement or government

Now that we know what a nation is… what

nationalism is… what is national interest?• It is defined as “the country’s

perceived needs and aspirations in relation to other sovereign states constituting the external environment.” It can relate to– Economic interests– Power/survival– Morality/power– Realistic/idealistic considerations

What are the basic national interests of the

United States?

MOST VITAL

LEAST VITAL

Survival Interest

Peripheral Interest

Vital Interest

Major Interest

Can you think of examples of these different types of interests?

Why and how has America’s role in foreign affairs changed over the

course of history?

Why does America’s FP Why does America’s FP change?change?

1. World events/US strength2. Domestic needs3. Political attitudes of the

people4. Political attitudes of

Congress5. Economic trends6. Presidential visions for

America’s role in the world

Phases of American FPPhases of American FP

• 1780s-1840s: ISOLATION & NEUTRALITY

• 1840s-1910s: EXPANSIONISM & IMPERIALISM

• 1914-1917: NEUTRALITY• 1917-1920: INTERVENTION• 1920- late 1930s: ISOLATION &

NEUTRALITY

Phases of American FP Phases of American FP (cont.)(cont.)

• Late 1930s-1945: INTERVENTION• 1945-1975: CONTAINMENT of

COMMUNISM, NUCLEAR ARMS RACE

• 1975-1990: DÉTENTE/COVERT ACTION

• 1990-2001: STABILIZING MIDDLE EAST

• 2001-Present: WAR ON TERRORISM

What factors should government officials

consider when deciding whether or not to involve

America in matters abroad? We’ll return to

this question…

What role should history play in determining

foreign policy?• Actively read “They Will Have Flies Walking

Across Their Eyeballs” from Stephen Kinzer’s Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.

• Select at least 10 examples from the chapter that stand out to you about how America’s foreign policy over the course of history has impacted recent events.

• We will have an inner/outer discussion on your findings, and then we’ll draw conclusions about the “big” question.