U.S. Foreign Policy

Four Schools of Foreign Policy:

• Isolationism (keep focus at home)• Realism (realpolitik – protect U.S. interests)• Idealism (extension of American values)• Internationalism (work multilaterally)• Actual policy most often mixes several or all• Key is what approach dominates and in what

circumstances• What is your view about the best approach?

Evolution of Early U.S. Foreign Policy• American Revolution

-Necessity of alliances

• Post-war policy: Isolationism (why?)

• Monroe Doctrine (1823)

• Monroe Doctrine (1823)

–No “future colonization” of the Americas “by any European powers”

–“The political system of [European powers] is essentially different . . . from America.”

• By 1898, U.S. drops isolationism– What about U.S. had changed since 1823?• U.S. an industrial superpower• Continental power• Population up from 9.6 million to 76 million• Theories of what is behind change:– Frontier closed – Frederick Jackson Turner– Overproduction of Goods– Populist movement and protests encourage

need for distraction– Imperialist fever in Europe– Social Darwinism

Foreign Policy Questions:1) What role should the U.S. play in the world?2) Should citizens engage in making foreign policy as

they do domestic policy? Why or why not?3) Under what circumstances (if ever) should the U.S.

use military force in the world? For what purposes?4) How should the U.S. engage with other “great”

powers?5) To what degree does our foreign policy need to be

consistent?6) What should the U.S. do now in Afghanistan?