Download Ben Bradbury Jordan Grant Helen Grossman Jocelyn Karlan Keren

Ben Bradbury
Jordan Grant
Helen Grossman
Jocelyn Karlan
Keren Petito
Lauren Teplin
Ashwin Thomas
Foreign Policy
Vocabulary Terms:
1) Anti-balllistic missile (ABM): An anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a missile designed to counter
ballistic missiles. These types of missiles were developed at the end of WWII and into the Cold War as
the arms race began between the US and Russia.
2) Anti-appeasement- The view that the US should contain aggressive nations(such as the former Soviet
Union).
3) Berlin Blockade- One of the first major crises of the Cold War. It began when the Soviets blocked
railroad and street access to the three major western powers. The Berlin Airlift was used to counter this
blockade of the designated zones in Berlin.
4) Chadha decision- In June 1983, the Supreme Court ruled that the legislative veto was
unconstitutional.The court held that Congress cannot take any action that has the force of law unless the
president agrees with that action.
5) Commander -in-chief- Power designated through the Constitution and given to the president alone.
As commander in cheif, the president has the power to command the armed forces, and commission
officers. He weilds tremendous power over the military.
6) Containment- the forign policy strategy used by the United States at the beginning of the Cold War.
This policy was used to try to stop nations moving to Soviet led communism instead of western
dominated capitalism.
7) Council on Foreign Relations- a nonpartisan foreign policy membership organization founded in
1921. This private organization helps to shape elite public opinion on forign policy.
8) Cuban Missile Crisis- On October 15, 1962, this Crisis between the US and Soviet Union reached its
climax when US spy planes photographed missiles in Cuba from the Soviets, aimed at the United States.
This was the closest that the US and Soviets had come to a nuclear war. The Soviets disarmed Cuba and
the US disarmed their missiles in Turkey.
9) Detente- the French word meaning relaxing or easing. Thsi term was applied to US and Soviet tensions
near the end of the Cold War. Many treaties were passed, and the Soviet economy could no longer
support the amssive arms race. This period lasted from the late 1960's until the early 1980's.
10) Disengagement view- A view that the US involvement in Vietnam had led to a military and political
disaster and that further similar invovements should be avoided. Also known as the "new isolationism."
11) Domino Theory- An influential theory first articulated by President Eisenhower holding that if an
important nation were to fall into communist hands, other neighboring countries would follow siut. The
domino theory was a metaphor to explain his point.
12) Executive Agreements- An agreement that the President can sign without the consent of the
Congress. This type of agreement is used to sign treaties, and also when troops need to be sent into
comabt in ceratin area.
13) Glasnost- the policy of openness, publicity, and transparency into the activities of all governemnt
institutions. This was introduced into the Soviet Union by Mikhail Gorbachev.He belived that this could
be used to fight the corruption of the top and elite of the Communist Party.
14) Imperial presidency- the idea that a president strong enough to do something that one thinks proper
is also strong enough to do something that one finds wrong.
15) Iron curtain- the political barrier, maintained by the Soviet Union, to free travel and communication
between Eastern and Western Europe.
16) Legislative veto- what was used before the War Powers Act by Congress to disapprove of an
executive decision to block the sale by the president of arms worth more than $25 million to another
country.
17) Mayaguez Incident- with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia on May 12-15, 1975, marked the last
official battle of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Less than two weeks after the Communist
conquest of South Vietnam, forces of the Communist Khmer Rouge in Cambodia attacked and seized an
American merchant ship, the Mayaguez, and captured the crew. President Gerald Ford reacted by sending
in the Marines to rescue the crew.
18) Multinational corporation- a corporation or enterprise that manages production establishments or
delivers services in at least two countries. They can have a powerful influence in international relations
and local economies, and thus play an important role in globalization.
19) Munich Accords- the peak of the appeasement era; an effort of British and French leaders to satisfy
Hitler’s territorial demands in Europe that had led not to “peace in our time”, as proclaimed by Neville
Chaimberlain, but instead led to even greater territorial demands and ultimately to world war.
20) National Security Agency- a key component of the US Intelligence Community off the United States
government, headed by the Director of National Intelligence, it is responsible for the collection and
analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence.
21) Perestroika- the term for the economic reforms introduced in 1985 by the Soviet leader Mikhail
Gorbachev. Its literal meaning is "restructuring", referring to the restructuring of the Soviet economy.
22) Rapprochement- a re-establishment of cordial relations, as between two countries. In the political
scene of an individual country, rapprochement means the bringing together of diverse political factions.
23) State Department- the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government,
equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. It is administered by the Secretary of State.
24) Third World- originally a Grench term referring to nations neutral in the cold war between the
United Nations and the Soviet Union, the Third World now mean almost any underdeveloped nation in
Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East.
25) War Powers Act- passed in 1973 over a presidential veto, this law placed the following restrictions
on the president’s ability to use military force: he must report in writing to Congress within forty-eight
hours after he introduces US troops into areas where hostilities have occurred or are imminent; within
sixty days after troops are sent into hostile situations, Congress must, by declaration of war, provide for
the continuation of hostile action by US troops; if Congress fails to provide such authorization, the
president must withdraw the troops; and if Congress passes a concurrent resolution directing the removal
of US troops, the president must comply.
26) Worldview- the comprehensive mental beliefs regarding the critical problems facing the United
States in the world and of the appropriate and inappropriate ways of responding to these problems.
Objectives
1. List the Constitutional powers of the president and compare them with the authority of
Congress in foreign affairs. Why does the president now have a larger role than the
Framers of the Constitution may have intended?
The Constitution specifically mentions three powers to the executive in foreign policy. The
President is the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the president has the power to make
treaties with other countries with the “advice and consent” of the Senate, appointing, sending, and
receiving ambassadors. Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign countries.
The Senate has the power to approve treaties and must confirm ambassadors and other senior
foreign policy officials. Congress controls foreign policy funding, can raise and equip the
military, and has the power to declare war. The president has assumed a larger role than intended
because presidents have taken extremes during recent times of crisis. The Supreme Court has
supported presidents in the past when they take drastic measures during wartime or times of
crisis. Examples of this include F.D.R. sending Japanese-Americans to internment camps during
World War II and Kennedy and Johnson sending troops to Vietnam.
2. Explain why checks on the powers of the national government in foreign affairs are
primarily political rather than constitutional. Give one example from U.S. history since
1970 and one example from George W. Bush’s administration.
Checks in national government in foreign affairs are primarily political because party differences
and strong anti-war sentiments in Congress affect Congress’s willingness to fund or support a war
that it does not agree with. In 1971, Congress passed the Case-Church Amendment, which
prohibited any further U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia without Congressional authorization.
Since the Democrats have regained control of Congress, they have similarly tried to check
George W. Bush in the Middle East. On March 23, 2007, the House of Representatives passed
an Iraq spending bill that stipulated that troops begin withdrawing in March 2008 and that most
US forces must be out of Iraq by August 31, 2008. The Senate is currently debating this bill.
3. Describe the War Powers Act of 1973. Explain the reasons and purpose behind it, as well
as its provisions. How have US presidents responded to the War Powers Act?
The War Powers Act of 1973 was created to give congress more power over the armed forces.
Presidents were sending armed troops to hostile areas without a formal declaration of war.
Congress was concerned that the checks and balances between the executive branch and the
legislative branch were not being appropriately enforced. To ensure that congress had more
control over the military, four restrictions were created (The War Powers Act of 1973).
-The president must formally notify congress within two days after he sends troops to a
dangerous place where violence is about to break out.
-Congress must grant a declaration of war after troops have been in a dangerous location
for sixty days for the troops to be able to remain there.
-If Congress refuses to give a declaration of war, the president must remove the military
from the hostile area.
-If Congress delivers a concurrent resolution to remove the military from the hostile area,
the president must carry out the wishes of congress.
U.S. presidents believe the War Powers Act of 1973 is unconstitutional. Although all of the
presidents do not agree on the constitutionality of the act, all the presidents except Bush has
upheld its constituents.
4. Describe the organization, the objectives, and some of the problems faced by key agencies
in policy making, including the State Department, the National Security Counsel, and the
Central Intelligence Agency.
After America became a major world power; a lot of emphasis was focused on Foreign Policymaking. One major problem is that the foreign policy establishment is that it is so large that it is
impossible for one person to organize it. The president does not have time to look after
everything so he directed a staff to take over organizing foreign policy. The National Security
Counsel consists of the vice president, secretaries of state and defense, director of CIA, chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of State, and the attorney general. This counsel helps get these important
figures together to decide on decisions concerning foreign policy. Foreign policy making does
not come without its flaws. During Reagan¢s presidency the National Security Counsel supplied
money, which they got from secret dealings of weapons to Iran, to support the guerillas in
Nicaragua. This scandal was publicized and Reagan¢s reputation was hurt. The state Department
rarely initiates new policies that may be potentially disruptive because they are so intimidated by
what other countries will think. Problems are prevalent in foreign policy, even in the C.I.A. The
Central Intelligence Agency is often mistrusting of other organizations and belittles intelligence
analysts.
5. Give reasons for the volatility of public opinion on foreign affairs. Describe the problems
that the president may face, using the public opinion on the Vietnam War and the Iraq
War as examples.
This volatility of public opinion on foreign affairs reflects the desire of Americans to support the
United States when it confronts with other nations. Most foreign catastrophes increased the level
of public approval of the president. Sometime people might argue that whatever support a
president gets during a military crisis will disappear once dead soldiers return from the war
effort. However, usually deaths tend to reduce how favorable people are towards a war, the
fighting as to defeat the enemy more quickly escalates. Forty-nine percent of the people favored
the end of the American bombing of North Vietnam before President Johnson ordered a halt.
Afterward, sixty percent of the people supported Johnson. Just before September 11, 2001,
President Bush's favorability rating was fifty-one percent; just after the attack, it was eighty-six
percent. Both presidents had an increase in support from the general public after their policies
were put into action.
6. Explain the different worldview concepts of foreign affairs in terms of anti-appeasement
and disengagement.
The anti-appeasement model was the result of Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attack was a day that
ended isolationism for realists. Most of the applications used of the containment worldview were
successful in a sense that it did not harm American interests, they proved welcome to allies, or
prevented a military conquest. The Disengagement view resulted from the experience of the
younger foreign policy elite that came to power in the 1970s. unlike the applications of the antiappeasement view, the American entry into Vietnam had led to a military defeat and a domestic
political disaster
7. Who was Mr. X? Describe his containment strategy and evaluate its effectiveness during the
Cold War. Would a similar strategy work for the War on Terror?
Mr. X is better known as George Frost Kennan. He was the United States Ambassador to the
Soviet Union. He was also a political scientist and historian. His writings inspired the Truman
Doctrine. He was openly against the Russian spread of communism. His strategy was to provide
aid and political help to Japan and Western Europe to keep alive capitalism and prevent
communism from becoming appealing. A similar strategy would not be successful for the War on
Terror. Terrorists are too unstable and will continue to exist no matter what the conditions are.
Terrorism is not easily countered through political policy.
8. Describe the pros and cons of a human rights worldview of foreign affairs. How important
should human rights be in US foreign policy compared to the military and economic
interests of the country?
A human rights view in world affairs would have both negatives and positives. The negatives
would obviously impact the extent to which the U.S. could perform its policy. The U.S. cannot
perform optimally if it worries about human loss. If it does worry about human rights, it is saving
those lives and being humane, and at the same time creating a better public image to the rest of
the world. If you do not show human rights, you gain the advantage of not being limited, but you
lose public support and human life/rights.
9. Review the revisionist argument that it is the material interests of elites, rather than their
principles, that explain US foreign policy. Give some possible examples from US history,
and be sure to explain what revisionism is.
Revisionism is the practice in which historians re-evaluate accepted historical accounts
using different outlooks and opinions. Most often, these historians are part of a minority
movement, such as women and African-Americans, or are up-and-coming in their fields and
therefore have little at risk when fighting traditional history. Revisionists work to shift the general
opinion of historical events, and when this does occur, revisionists refer to it as a paradigm shift.
Revisionists have often considered the theory that the government manipulates and
controls public opinion on foreign affairs, and is thus the dominant force behind all planning.
Revisionists have responded to this theory highlighting the power of the elite class in America
and the general elite motivation to protect their material interests.
During the Vietnam War, for example, as revisionist William Appleman Williams
describes, the elites pressured to continue to War even as progress drew to a halt. The revisionists
suggest that although the humanitarian goal would be to pull out of the war that was costing
significant numbers of American lives, the elites wanted to continue due to their hopes to
preserve American notoriety and power.
Elite material interests also largely manipulated Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick
Diplomacy. While many Americans argued that the foreign aggression was inhumane,
Roosevelt’s government wanted to continue due to their goals of world dominance and trade
success.
10. Trace the recent history of the relationship between the US and the United Nations
As the United States established itself as the world’s most dominant nation, natural power
struggles arose in the United Nations. The organization was not established with the intent of
having a single most powerful nation, and the United States struggled in this position. The first
instance of conflict with the UN occurred over the issue of replacing the Republic of China with
the People’s Republic of China in 1971 on the Security Council. In 1975, conflict struck again
over the issue of the establishment of the state of Israel. This has been a lasting conflict, as the US
has showed strong support for the Middle East democracy. In 1975 the UN decided that Zionism
was a form of racism, infuriating many Israel-supporting Americans. Since 1989 there have been
12 instances of Security Council votes where the United States was the lone dissenting vote; 10 of
these votes were over the issue of Israel. Under the Reagan administration, US-UN relations were
at their worst and the United States began withholding its funds due to the United Nations. By the
time the United States decided to begin improving relations, the US had accumulated a significant
debt.
Still significant in recent news, the United States the United Nations disagreed over the
ambush of Iraq in a search for weapons of mass destruction. In 2002 and 2003, although the UN
conducted unsuccessful searches for weapons and advised not entering Iraq, the United States
creating its own international coalition and attacked Iraq.
Most recently, in 2007, the United States and United Nations were in conflict because the
US did not want to receive Republic of Abkhazia minister, Sergei Shamba, despite UN orders to
do so.
Currently, Congress often works of reform bills for the UN, hoping to improve its means
of collecting funds as well as its productivity. While there is a growing movement in the United
States to leave the UN entirely, it is weak and unlikely to succeed.