United States Foreign Policy after 1945 Essay

“President Clinton and I… have spoken frequently about the ends of American foreign policy. Boiled down. these have non changed in more than 200 old ages. They are to guarantee the continued security. prosperity. and freedom of our people. ” ( Albright 1998. p. 50-64 ) Thus were the words of so US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright back in 1998. Fast-forward to 2006 and we have President George W. Bush noting on America as confronting a ‘choice between the way of fright and the way of assurance.

’ The way of fright – isolationism and protectionism. retreat and retrenchment – entreaties to those who find challenges excessively great. neglecting to see in them chances ( Bush 2006 ) . As Bush ( 2006 ) asserts. his disposal has chosen the way of assurance. leading over isolationism and the chase of free and just trade and unfastened markets over protectionism. consistent with the tradition of American policy.

Founded on two pillars – advancing freedom. justness and human self-respect. and facing the challenges of our clip by taking a turning community of democracies. the present national security scheme of the Bush disposal maintains the primacy of spread outing the national strength of the United States resting non simply on the strength of the military but on economic prosperity and a vivacious democracy every bit good.

Yet Bush’s instead confrontational. militaristic attack as reflected in US foreign policy has been shown to hold negative effects on America’s dealingss with its long-time Alliess. every bit good as in footings of projecting its image abroad in the slightly disruptive sphere of international dealingss. and finally projecting uncertainties whether it is truly in the national involvement of the United States of America. The present paper aims to exemplify how this is so. through a treatment of US foreign policy stressing the critical facets of national security. free trade. democracy. universe peace and human rights.

II. DISCUSSION National Security It is the recognized primary responsibility of the United States Government to ‘protect the American people and American involvements. compeling the authorities to expect and counter menaces utilizing all resources of national power at its disposal. before these menaces can make sculpt damage’ ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 18 ) . Anticipatory action taken in self-defence is considered of primary importance. peculiarly in position of terrorist onslaughts withWMD.

The US-led planetary War on Terror after the 10/11 terrorist onslaughts is considered by the US State as ‘both a conflict of weaponries and a conflict of ideas’ ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 9 ) . It involves both the usage of military force and other instruments of national power to gaining control and extinguish terrorists. deny them safe haven or command of any state. forestall their entree to WMD. and the cutting off of their beginnings of support.

The US authorities shall use a comprehensive scheme affecting strengthened non-proliferation attempts. i. e. proactive counter-proliferation attempts to support against and get the better of WMD and missile menaces before they are unleashed ; and improved protection extenuating the effects of WMD usage ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 18 ) . The proliferation of atomic arms is recognized as presenting the greatest menace to US national security in their capacity to bring down instant loss of life on a monolithic graduated table.

The scheme of pick is on denying terrorists and atomic provinces entree to the indispensable ingredient of fissionable stuff and to discourage any transportation of atomic stuff from provinces holding this capableness to rogue provinces and terrorists. The 9/11 panic onslaughts proved the exposure of the United States. acclaimed solitary world power of the universe. to terrorist act. In a command to safeguard national security. the Bush disposal declared a planetary war on panic. which doubtless leaves many frights of retaliatory onslaughts from panic groups.

It is of import to observe that the job of terrorist act is a thorny issue and a multi-faceted 1. affecting non simply differences in faith and political orientation but poorness and societal grudges. among others. which are recognized by the National Security Strategy. Free Trade The publicity of free and just trade has long been a dogma of American foreign policy as greater economic freedom is viewed as finally inseparable from political autonomy ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. P.

25 ) . Taking into consideration economic power as empowering persons. which in bend leads to the demand for greater political freedom advancing greater economic chance and prosperity. the market economic system is viewed as the individual most effectual economic system and the greatest counterpoison to poorness. The US promotes free and just trade. unfastened markets. a stable fiscal system. the integrating of the planetary economic system. and secure. clean energy development as the agency towards economic autonomy and prosperity.

Economic freedom is viewed by the present disposal as a ‘moral jussive mood. ’ with the ‘liberty to make and construct. purchase. sell and ain belongings fundamental to human nature and foundational to a free society’ ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 27 ) . Economic freedom creates diversified centres of power and authorization which places bounds on the range of authoritiess. spread outing the free flow of thoughts. exposing people to new ways of thought and life and finally giving more control over their ain lives.

Even as most of the universe affirms the entreaty of economic autonomy. it is the position of the present authorities that excessively many states still hold fast to the ‘false amenitiess of subsidies and trade barriers’ which stifles growing in developed states ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 27 ) . The US promotes the vision of a planetary economic system welcoming to each and every nation-participant and encourages the voluntary exchange of goods and services.

Issues on the constitution of a truly flat playing field among developed and developing states. the go oning significance and germinating functions of the post-World War many-sided establishments such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund continue to stalk the unit of ammunitions of free trade dialogues. functioning as effectual obstructions towards the full globalisation and integrating of free markets all over the universe. Democracy

It is the policy of the United States to seek and back up democratic motions and establishments in every state and civilization. with the ultimate end of stoping dictatorship in our universe ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 1 ) . The professed end of US statesmanship so is “help make a universe of democratic. well-governed provinces that can run into the demands of their citizens and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system” ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. P.

1 ) through taking the international attempt to stop dictatorship and advance effectual democracy. Closely related to the end of stoping dictatorships. the US recognizes its function in assisting freshly free states in the edifice of effectual democracies – provinces which respect human self-respect. are accountable to their citizens. and responsible towards their neighbours.

Democracy is concretely expressed through elections wherein persons and parties committed to the equality of all citizens. minority rights. civil autonomies. voluntary and peaceable transportation of power. and the peaceable declaration of differences can freely take part. every bit good as the presence of establishments which protect single autonomy. independent media. freely viing political associations and political parties. an independent bench. professional legal constitution. and an honest and competent constabulary force.

This committedness to the publicity of freedom is coursed through several tactics changing among states reflecting the civilization and history of its people. from vocal and seeable stairss on behalf of immediate alteration to more quiet support puting the foundation for future studies. The US shall take and name on other states in a common international attempt. yet it does non waver to move on its ain if demand be.

Grave jobs arise when the US is seen as intervening in what other states may comprehend as mostly domestic personal businesss which does non concern Washington. and the perceptual experience of democracy as a Western infliction even in non-Western states. fueling bitterness and claims of ongoing cultural imperialism in the publicity of American values even in still-largely traditional societies.

World Peace Conflict among states can originate from a assortment of causes – external aggression. viing claims. internal rebellion. hapless administration. cultural and spiritual differences. among others – which if left unaddressed. can finally ensue to human-centered catastrophes. the failure of provinces. and unbridled countries which can go harbor terrorists.

To turn to this. the Bush disposal seeks to implement three degrees of battle: ( 1 ) struggle intercession ; ( 2 ) post-conflict stabilisation ; and ( 3 ) Reconstruction ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 15 ) . In footings of guaranting peace in an frequently disruptive international sphere of viing states. the most effectual long-run step for struggle bar and declaration is the publicity of democracy ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 15 ) .

This is in line of the position that though effectual democracies may still hold differences. they are more equipt to work out such differences through peaceable agencies. either bilaterally or in cooperation with other international establishments. formations or regional provinces. As some struggles pose such grave menaces to the broader national involvements. struggle intercession may be deemed necessary to reconstruct peace and stableness. peculiarly in fortunes wherein the international community does non hold plenty trained military forces capable of executing peace-keeping missions.

This has led to shut the authorities closely working with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) in bettering province capacities for intercession in struggle state of affairss. and support to the UN reforms seeking to better its ability to transport out peacekeeping missions characterized by enhanced answerability. inadvertence and results-based direction patterns ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 16 ) .

And the 3rd degree of engagement takes into consideration the demand for post-conflict stabilisation and Reconstruction one time peace has been restored. History has borne informant to success as ensuing from the early constitution of strong local establishments. e. g. a functional bench and penal system. effectual constabulary systems. and heightening administration capacity critical to the constitution of the regulation of jurisprudence and a free market economic system. on the premise that these in bend would supply the key to long-run stableness and prosperity.

It is besides interesting to observe that the chase of American involvements is to be accomplished within the model of concerted relationships. peculiarly with its ‘oldest and closest friends and allies’ ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 35 ) .

Another precedence is the bar of any re-emergence of the great power competitions which had divided the universe in old epochs. in such a manner that these new attacks are flexible plenty to allow effectual action even in the face of differences of sentiments among friends. yet strong plenty to face challenges. These rules guide American international dealingss. notably within its ain hemisphere ( the Western Hemisphere ) considered the ‘frontline of defence of American national security’ ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. P.

37 ) which is envisioned to be to the full democratic. edge together in good will. security cooperation and chance for all its citizens to thrive. Concretely. the end includes beef uping dealingss with regional spouses to do many-sided establishments. e. g. the Inter-American Development Bank. more effectual and better able in furthering conjunct action turn toing menaces to the region’s stableness. prosperity. security or democratic advancement.

The Bush disposal has identified cardinal menaces to international security in the signifier of knave provinces. and its taking on a hardline policy towards these provinces which could perchance fuel bitterness and strong feelings of anti-Americanism among their peoples. World peace does non look any less elusive in the modern-day period despite the terminal of the Cold War and the bipolarization of the universe. as poorness. societal inequality. racial. cultural and spiritual differences continue to make societal divides among people.

Human Rights Tyranny is defined as the ‘combination of ferociousness. poorness. instability. corruptness. and enduring forged under the regulation of tyrants and despotic systems’ ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. p. 3 ) . as is the instance under the states of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Iran. Syria. Cuba. Belarus and Burma. which treated the world’s involvement in freedom’s enlargement and immediate security menaces every bit good. i. vitamin E.

their chase of arms of mass devastation ( The National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2006. The end of human rights publicity is closely related to the chase of democracy. universe peace. and the publicity of planetary free trade. This becomes peculiarly acute when one considers political autonomies and democratic establishments as critical towards achieving greater economic freedom. chances and prosperity in the context of a market economic system.

Chomsky ( 1982 ) notes that the US is no more engaged in plans of international good will than any other province has been as foreign policy is designed and implemented by narrow groups deducing their power from the domestic beginnings of province capitalist economy and control over the domestic economic system. Within the nation-state. the effectual ‘national interest’ is by and big articulated by those who control the cardinal economic establishments. go forthing the preparation of its camouflage for the technocratic and policy-oriented clerisy.

Human rights misdemeanors have been charged against US soldiers in occupied districts every bit good as among those in peace-keeping missions. Specific instances of human rights misdemeanors have been documented in US bases in South Korea. Japan. and in the former US bases in the Philippines. The discriminatory intervention for and detention of US soldiers in instance of test and strong belief is besides a major sore point between the US authorities and the ‘host’ states.