U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

These flashcards provide key concepts and definitions related to U.S. foreign policy and international relations, preparing students for their exam.

What is foreign policy?

Foreign policy is government actions that involve and affect countries, organizations, and corporations that operate outside America’s borders.

What are the major components of foreign policy?

WAR, TRADE DEALS, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, DIPLOMACY, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

What does International Relations (IR) study?

IR is the study of war and peace, and the conditions that must be present for war and/or peace to exist.

What are the two major theories explaining why countries go to war?

Realism and Internationalism.

What does Realism focus on in foreign policy?

Power Politics and military capability as primary interests.

What is the primary interest of all states according to Realism?

Survival.

What is the Balance of Power theory?

International stability is more likely when military capability is equally distributed, preventing any one state from dominating others.

What are the characteristics of a Unipolar system?

A single dominant power, such as the Roman Empire.

What characterizes a Bipolar system?

Stability occurs due to military strength being equally distributed between two superpowers.

What is the Democratic Peace Theory?

It posits that democratic leaders are held accountable by a voting public, leading democracies to not view each other as hostile.

What are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)?

Private institutions that promote growth, economic development, and internationalist agendas.

What is NATO and its purpose?

NATO is an intergovernmental organization that combines realism and internationalism to balance smaller countries against Russia.

What is the paradox in U.S. foreign policy?

A conflict between military hegemony (realism) and democratic values (internationalism).

Who was the first internationalist president of the United States?

Woodrow Wilson.

What significant event marked the beginning of the Cold War?

A power struggle between the USA and USSR for global dominance.

What did Nixon achieve during his presidency regarding foreign policy?

He ended American involvement in Vietnam and opened relations with Communist China.

What are the two types of power described in U.S. foreign policy?

Hard Power (coercion and force) and Soft Power (diplomacy and cultural values).

What was the main focus of the Clinton Doctrine?

American Hegemony and maintaining international stability through unilateral actions.

What was a key premise of the Bush Doctrine?

Promote democracy through force while retaining America’s military superiority.

What was emphasized in the Obama Doctrine?

Negotiation and collaboration rather than confrontation and unilateralism.