Foreign Policy and National Security

What is diplomacy?

The conduct of international relations

Who are foreign service officers?

Diplomatic and consular staff at U.S. embassies

What are sanctions?

Penalties that stop economic exchanges

What is NTR status?

Least restrictive trade conditions

Who is the foremost foreign policy actor of the world?

US president

What does the state department do?

Help shape and administer US foreign policy in other countries

What does the defense department do?

Oversees all branches of the military

What does the national security council do?

Advises and assists the president on national security and foreign policy

What does the CIA do?

Collects, analyzes, evaluates, and disseminates foreign intelligence to the president

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress

What is the war powers act?

Limits presidential use of military forces to 60 days w/ 30 day extension

What is the AUMF? How did it weaken the war powers act?

Gives the president the broad authority to use armed forces, Presidents don’t need to wait on congressional approval

What other powers does congress have to shape foreign policy?

Ratify treaties, authorize spending for military ops

What is the military-industrial complex?

The connection between the military and defense industry

What are 2 reasons the military-industrial complex have so much influence over foreign policy and defense spending?

Goals of military and defense intersect, Close relationships between individuals in the military and in the defense industry

Isolationism vs Interventionism

Unwilling to participate in international affairs, Willingness to participate

What is hegemony?

Form of imperial geographic dominance

What was the monroe doctrine?

Declaration that the Americas shouldn’t be considered for colonization by european powers

What was manifest destiny?

Idea that it was the US’s destiny to spread throughout north america

What lead to the end of US’s isolation from the world?

WW1

What is collective defense and collective security?

Countries agree to defend each other, nations oppose any nation that attacked another nation

What are superpowers?

Nations with dominating influence in international affairs

What is a multilateral organization?

Numerous nations in organizations and agreements

What is the UN?

International body established to prevent future wars through collective security

What is the UN security council?

Ensures international peace and security

Other than preventing wars, what else does the UN’s mission include?

Promotion of economic and social development

What is NATO?

International mutual defense alliance

What is the IMF and what does it do?

Regulates monetary relationships among nations, establishes exchange rates for currencies

What is the world bank and what does it do?

International financial institution, lends money to nations in need

What is the WTO and what does it do?

Negotiates, implements, and enforces international trade agreements

What is containment?

Cold war era policy of preventing the spread of communism

What wars/crises did containment cause?

Korean war, cuban missile crisis, Vietnam conflict

What is detente?

Easing of tensions between the US and communist rivals

What is deterrence?

Nations would be less likely to engage in nuclear war if each had first strike capabilities

What is mutually assured destruction?

If a nation attacks with nuclear weapons, the other would retaliate and both nations would be completely destroyed

What is preventive war?

Waging war on countries considered threats to prevent future conflicts

What is nuclear proliferation?

The increasing presence of nuclear weapons around the world