Doctrines of American Foreign Policy

Monroe Doctrine

Three elements, noncolonization, abstain from European politics, threaten European involvement in the Americas

Roosevelt Corollary

Big stick diplomacy, markets come first, then democracy, responding to rising European threats like Germany, expanded scope of Monroe, sovereignty in hemisphere creating issues, US needs to intervene to serve as an aggressive democratizer

Truman Doctrine

Argued that the world was a dangerous place therefore we must prevent Soviet expansion anywhere and everywhere, we must redefine American strategy to become involved in nation building

Massive Retaliation/Eisenhower Doctrine 

Respond to any Soviet moves with nukes, use nukes in conventional warfare, use as deterrents (credibility), approved clandestine ops through CIA, military advisors as trip wires, lower costs to continue containment, problem is that it promoted pre-emptive strikes and was inherently non credible

Flexible Response/Kennedy Doctrine

Reserve the use of nukes only when truly necessary, respond with equal amounts of force, invest in defense so we can fight two and a half wars, restraint is more credible/threatening

Nixon Doctrine

Recommit to treaties such as NATO, provide nuclear shield to allies, require permission of host state before sending troops, move away from unilateralism

Reagan Doctrine

USSR was responsible for American decline, return of Manifest Destiny (tying it to battle of good and evil), revitalize military strength to rollback Soviet gains through global competition

Shultz Doctrine

Fears of entanglement were overblown, we shouldn’t fear another Vietnam, force is the greatest source of credibility, power and diplomacy tied together, arguing that Weinberger was wrong as the US had many interests (which were vital?) and public opinion shouldnt be a constraint

Weinberger/Powell Doctrine

Use of force should be limited to vital interests (credibility best communicated with restraint), US should only use force when they are prepared to do everything necessary for a quick victory, US forces should have clear objectives and an exit strategy, high importance of public support

Clinton Doctrine

Expand global markets, promote peace, defend humanitarian interests, going back to Triumphant Democracy, no real foreign policy plan followed due to fall of Soviet Union

Bush Doctrine

Focused on pre-emptive strikes on opponents which was an aggressive preventive strategy, unilateralist strategies ignoring international organizations, end world tyranny through nation building to impose democracy from the outside

Trump Doctrine

Withdraw from institutions that tie American power down and are expensive, use bilateral relationships to coerce multinational state groups, strengthen nuclear capabilities, isolate and protect through walls and Golden Dome