AmericanPolitics: Chapter 15

foreign policy

government actions that affect countries, corporations, groups, or individuals outside America's borders

unilateral action

independent acts of foreign policy undertaken by a nation without the assistance or coordination of other nations

multilateral action

foreign policy carried out by a nation in coordination with other nations or international organizations

isolationism

the idea that a country should refrain from involvement in international affairs

internationalism

the idea that a country should be involved in the affairs of other nations, out of both self-interest and moral obligation

realism

the idea that a country's foreign policy decisions are motivated by self-interest and the goal of gaining more power

idealism

the idea that foreign policy decisions reflect normative goals such as justice, equality, and human rights

nation building

the use of a country's resources, including the military, to help nondemocratic nations transform themselves into democracies

Monroe doctrine

the American policy stating that the United States would remain neutral in conflicts between European nations and that these nations should stop colonizing or occupying areas of north and south America

Cold War

the period of tension and arms competition between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from 1945 until 1991

containment

an important feature of American Cold War policy in which the United States used diplomatic economic, and military strategies in an effort to prevent the Soviet Union from expanding its influence

mutually assured destruction

the idea that two nations that possess large stores of nuclear weapons would both be annihilated in any nuclear exchange, thus making it unlikely that either country would launch a first attack

detente

an approach to foreign policy in which cultural exchanges and negotiations are used to reduce tensions between rival nations

bush doctrine

foreign policy of president George w bush, under which the united states would use military force preemptively against threats to its national security

national security council

an agency within the EOP that advises the president on matters of foreign policy

civilian control

the idea that military leaders do not formulate military policy but rather implement directives from civilian leaders

intergovernmental organizations

organizations that seek to coordinate policy across member nations

nongovernmental organizations

groups operated by private institutions to promote growth, economic development, and other agendas throughout the world

world bank

a nongovernmental organization established in 1944 that provides financial support for economic development projects in developing nations

International Monetary Fund

a nongovernmental organization established in 1944 to help stabilize the international monetary system, improve economic growth, and aid developing nations

United Nations

an international organization made up of representatives from nearly every nation, with a mission to promote peace and cooperation, uphold international law, and provide humanitarian aid

tariff

a tax levied on imported or exported goods

world trade organization

an international organization created in 1995 to oversee trade agreements between nations by facilitating negotiations and handling disputes

most favored nation status

a standing awarded to countries with which a nation has good trade relations, providing the lowest possible tariff rate. WTO members must give one another this preferred status

economic sanctions

penalties applied by one country or group of countries on another, usually in the form of tariffs or other trade barriers

globalization

the increase over the last generation in trade, travel, and the flow of ideas and beliefs between nations

weapons of mass destruction

weapons the have the potential to cause large-scale loss of life, such as nuclear bombs and chemical or biological weapons