The document provides an introduction to the study of U.S. foreign policy. It distinguishes foreign policy from international relations by noting foreign policy focuses specifically on a single state within the international system. The document then covers key factors in U.S. foreign policy like the international system and distribution of power as well as U.S. politics and society. It concludes by giving a brief historical overview of early American foreign policy including independence, exceptionalism, and economic interests.
1. January 24|
Introduction to U.S. Foreign Policy
Studying U.S. Foreign Policy
What distinguishes this from IR?
Key Factors and Issues
Historical Overview
Early American Foreign Policy
Post-1914 AFP
Next time: major theories & levels of
analysis
2. Studying U.S. Foreign Policy
How & why states behave in the international system
International relations
Focus on theinternational system
General theories of state behavior
American Foreign Policy
Focus on single state within the international system
General theories of state behavior
+ U.S. specific theories and explanations
Examine historical development, policy process &
outcomes
3. Key Factor:
International system & distribution of power
The nature of international power
Pre-1945: military power, brute force
Mercantilism, protectionism
Industrial power = military power = power
Today?
Technological & strategic changes
Economic interdependence & “soft” power
Global distribution of Power
4. Key Factor:
U.S. politics and society
Political institutions and policy process
Elite and democratic influence
Changing U.S. economy
Political society
Civic knowledge and ignorance
Political culture and ideology
5. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence & separatism
American exceptionalism & Manifest
Destiny
Commerce & economic power
6. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence and New World Separatism
Ex: Washington’s “Farewell Address”;
J. Q. Adams’ “Doctrine of Two Spheres”
Monroe Doctrine (1823)
Americas "not to be considered as subjects for future
colonization by any European powers."
Opposition to European intervention in New World
Any intervention in Latin America = "the manifestation of
an unfriendly disposition toward the United States."
“a diplomatic declaration of independence” – Bradford Perkins
Tests of neutrality and independence
Quasi-war (1798-1800) & Warof 1812
No direct challenge of Monroe Doctrine
7. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence & New World Separatism
American Exceptionalism & Manifest Destiny
8. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence & New World Separatism
American Exceptionalism & Manifest Destiny
Belief that the U.S. has a special destiny and
mission in the world
U.S. hasresponsibility to protect & spread vision of liberty
Variants:
Passive: U.S. serves as exemplar, to be emulated
Active /Messianic: U.S. has responsibility to spread values
and rights to other peoples
Survival & stability of democratic-republic govt
Guard against internal & external threats, disorder
9. Manifest Destiny
U.S. mission to “carry the glad tidings of peace and good will
where myriads now endure an existence scarcely more
enviable than that of the beast of the field”
And “to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for
the free development of our yearly multiplying millions."
- John O’Sullivan
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15. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence & New World Separatism
American Exceptionalism & Manifest Destiny
Commerce & Economic Power
Trading privileges & access to foreign markets
Neutrality and universalistic claims
War of 1812: "free ships free goods."
John Hay: “Open Door” policies
16. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence & New World Separatism
American Exceptionalism & Manifest Destiny
Commerce & Economic Power
Power politics account
Power measured relative to other states
Ascendance of a state (in time period or conflict)
determined by available resources + economic
capacity ( -Paul Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of Great Powers)
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22. Early American Foreign Policy
Independence & New World Separatism
American Exceptionalism & Manifest Destiny
Commerce & Economic Power
Power politics account
Power measured relative to other states
Ascendance of a state (in time period or conflict)
determined by available resources + economic
capacity ( -Paul Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of Great Powers)
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27. Woodrow Wilson
“New Freedom” and New Nationalism
Promoting peace, spread of democracy
Reject militarism, colonialism, war
Foreign Policy
Liberal
idealism +
Progressive realism
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Theories of Foreign Policy and State
Relations
Analytic tools & building blocks
Definitions
Questions
Levels of analysis
Theories and paradigms
Realist theories of state behavior
30. American Foreign Policy
Definition: “the goals the nation's officials seek to
attain abroad, the values that give rise to those
objectives, and the means or instruments used to
pursue them.”
Policy: pattern of government decisions and actions
To advance national interests abroad
What are US national interests?
Pattern = sum of in/actions over time
Contests and change over time
32. Basic tools & “building blocks”
Theories
Basic assumptions or premises about the world
“lenses” for viewing phenomena
Search for rules to explain foreign policy behavior
IR:
theories to explain behavior of ALL states
AFP: theories to explain behavior of US
How can we evaluate a theory?
Does the question make sense?
Are they looking in the right place?
Are they testing it in the right way?
33. Questions
What is the question?
Foreign policy behavior
What have countries done in the past?
What should countries do?
What are countries doing and what will they be doing in
the future?
Foreign policy making
Why did an action or event occur?
Why did a country adopt a particular policy?
How did a country adopt or select a particular policy?
Does it make sense?
34. Levels of Analysis
Are they looking in the right place?
System-level
Nature of the world
How the international system influences major actors
Actors = States / countries; intergovernmental
organizations; transnational organizations; others?
Structural characteristics:
Organization of authority
States as primary actors
Frequency, scope and level of interaction
Power relations and polarity
Number of poles and distribution of power
Economic patterns, distribution of resources
Norms of behavior
35. Levels of Analysis
Are they looking in the right place?
System-level
State-level
State characteristics, actions, foreign policy making
Policy process influences activities and choices
Key variables
Government type
Situation or context
Policy type
36. Levels of Analysis
Are they looking in the right place?
System-level
State-level
Individual-level
Focus on individuals and human nature
People as ultimate decision-makers
State action = human “actors on world stage”
Perspectives
Human nature
Organizational behavior
Individual or specific characteristics
Cognitive theories – look at perceptions
37. Theories & theoretical paradigms
Categorizing theories
Paradigms = families of theories
Level of analysis
Object or phenomena being tested / explained
Major Theories
Realism
Classical realism; neo-realism; neo-classical realism
Liberalism
Classical liberalism, neo-liberalism
Constructivism
Cognitive theories / political psychology
38. Realism
State as unitary or primary actor
Decisions based on rational, strategic analysis
Cost/benefit analysis, preference-maximizing
Policy driven by national interest
Key premises
Decision-making process
Alternatives?
39. Questions
Are there objective, universal laws of human nature?
What does rational mean? Do states act this way?
Does efficacy always trump ethics or morals?
40. Consequences of anarchy
Waltz
System characteristics determine behavior
Ordering principle: anarchy
Differentiation of tasks / functions: none in IR
Distribution of capacity / power
Balance of power
States = unitary actors that seek
Minimum: self-preservation
Maximum: world domination
Seek goals through balancing (internal + external)
System is anarchic, self-help