Key Concepts in U.S. Foreign Policy and War History

This set of flashcards contains key vocabulary terms and definitions related to U.S. foreign policy, historical events, and ideological concepts derived from the provided lecture notes.

Liberal Leviathan

A term describing the U.S.-led postwar international order that fused liberalism with hegemonic stability.

Conservative World Historical Event

Ikenberry calls the end of the Cold War as such, indicating it reinforced rather than transformed existing global orders.

Liberal Moment of the 1990s

Characterized by a surge in democratic governance and economic globalization post-Cold War.

Preemptive War

Military action initiated on the belief that an attack is imminent, differing from preventative war, which aims to stop a potential threat.

Preventive War

A conflict aimed at neutralizing a potential threat before it materializes.

Conservative Nationalism

A political ideology emphasizing national identity and sovereignty, often prioritizing national interest over international cooperation.

Liberal Internationalism

The belief in promoting democracy and human rights globally, supporting international institutions and cooperation.

Bush Revolution

The foreign policy approach advocating for the promotion of democracy, which faced multiple failures during its execution.

State-Manufactured Lies

A term used by Beams to describe pre-Iraq War justifications based on deception rather than ethical considerations.

Bush Doctrine

A U.S. policy that justified military interventions based on the notion of preemptive strikes against perceived threats.

Ethical Imperialism

The notion that military intervention can be justified on humanitarian grounds.

Kleptocracy

A government characterized by rampant corruption and resource exploitation by the ruling class.

Alliance for Progress

A U.S. initiative aimed at fostering economic development and democratic governance in Latin America.

Bay of Pigs

A failed U.S.-backed mission in 1961 to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba.

Operation Mongoose

A covert campaign aimed at undermining Castro's regime in Cuba post-Bay of Pigs failure.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba, leading to direct negotiations.

Uniting for Peace Resolution

A UN Assembly procedure allowing the General Assembly to intervene if the Security Council was blocked.

Containment Policy

The U.S. strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of Soviet influence during the Cold War.

McCarthyism

A campaign against alleged communists in the U.S. government and other institutions during the early Cold War.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance established in 1949 for mutual defense.

Eisenhower Doctrine

A policy asserting U.S. intervention in the Middle East to counter communism.

Imperial Expansion

The process by which a state extends its dominion beyond its borders, often for economic gain.

American Exceptionalism

The belief that the United States has a unique mission to foster democracy and freedom.

Dollar Diplomacy

The U.S. policy of using economic power to influence foreign governments.

Ethnic Cleansing

A policy aimed at establishing a region as ethnically homogeneous by using force or intimidation to remove certain groups.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

The code name for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, justifying actions on the premise of eliminating weapons of mass destruction.

The Rise and Fall of the Bush Doctrine

Refers to the evolving foreign policy under President George W. Bush that initially aimed for liberal democracy promotion through military means.