American Foreign Policy Final Readings

Mr. X (Kennan)

“Sources of Soviet Conduct”

Conflict between socialism and capitalism inherent, infallibility of Soviet leadership, Soviet foreign policy was restrained 

Lyall & Wolfe

“To win hearts and minds”

Employment and improved job prospects move youth away from insurgencies, vocational training helps, cash signals the government cars, short terms helps youth see the benefits of long term aid (vocational training)

D.R. Lake

“Tech Qualitative Superiority”

US is too militarily small to be effective on battlefield due to reliance on technological superiority

Kang & Ma

“Power Transitions”

Emphasis on Power Transition Theory and a coming war between China and the US is not based in facts, unlikely to go to war, challenges coming from rogue states

Braumoeller

“The Myth of American Isolationism”

-American isolationism is a myth

-American attempt to create an economic empire, using legal, economic, and military instruments

-Used American economic power to keep Europe secure (keep itself secure)

Waltz

“Anarchic Orders and Balances of Power”

-Structural constraints explain why the methods are used despite differences in those that use them

-Balance of power theory only explains wider outcomes, not specific choices

-Trade creates dependence and states strive for self sufficiency

Skowronek

“The Politics Presidents Make”

-Power is less of a problem for presidents rather than authority (legitimacy)

-Presidency is order shattering, affirming, and creating

-Most powerful when reconstructing

-Come in to power opposed or affiliated to past regime and come in to a previously vulnerable or resilient regime

Howell and Pevehouse

“When Congress Stops Wars”

-Partisan power explains Congressional weakness

-Congress is powerful when it wants to be (when the opposition party to the president rules)

Allison

“Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis”

-Actions are a consequence of large decision making structure, innumerable actors, and conflicting decisions at multiple levels of the bureaucracy which share only partially compatible goals

-Government behavior outcome of bargaining game

-Where you stand is where you sit

Baum

“Sex, Lies, and War”

-Due to entertainment oriented soft news media politically inactive individuals are more likely to be exposed to foreign policy crises as a by-product

-This creates a larger attentive public

-Transform politics into entertainment, potentially democraticizing foreign policy

Dietrich

Interest Groups and Foreign Policy”

-Interest groups set the terms of debates, engage in policy oversight, and supply information/policy analysis

Newhouse

“Diplomacy, Inc”

-Increase of lobbyists in DC reflect a decline and privitization of American democracy

-Foreign lobbyists can threaten national security by putting America in difficult situations that could lead to conflict