Chapter 19: Foreign and Military Policy

Worldviews

A comprehensive opinion on how the US should respond to world problems

Isolationism

The belief that the US should withdraw from world affairs

Containment

The belief that the US should resist the expansion of aggressive nations, especially the former Soviet Union

Disengagement

The belief that the US was harmed by its war in Vietnam and so should avoid supposedly similar events

Human rights

The belief that we should try to improve the lives of people in other countries

Polarization

A deep and wide conflict over some government policy

Military-industrial complex

An alleged alliance between military leaders and corporate leaders

Bipolar world

A political landscape with two superpowers

Unipolar world

A political landscape with one superpower

Cost overruns

When the money actually paid to military suppliers exceeds the estimated costs

Gold plating

The tendency of Pentagon officials to ask weapons contractors to meet excessively high requirements

Diplomacy

TForeign Policy Processhe process of settling conflicts among nations by peaceful means.

Foreign Policy Process

The steps by which foreign policy goals are decided and acted on

Monroe Doctrine

A policy statement made by President James Monroe in 1823, which set out three principles: 1) European nations should not establish new colonies in the Western Hemisphere, 2) European nations should not intervene in the affairs of independent nations of the Western Hemisphere, and 3) the United States would not interfere in the affairs of European nations.

Isolationist Foreign Policy

A policy of abstaining from an active role in international affairs or alliances, which characterized U.S. foreign policy toward Europe during most of the 1800s.

Moral Idealism

A philosophy that views nations as normally willing to cooperate and to agree on moral standards for conduct.

Political Realism

A philosophy that views each nation as acting principally in its own interest