Study Notes on Reagan and Bush Foreign Policy

Ronald Reagan's Presidency and Foreign Policy

Context of Reagan's Election

  • Year of Election: 1980

  • Historical Significance: Shift in political landscape with Reagan defeating sitting President Jimmy Carter.

  • Congress Composition: Democratic Congress had been in power for a generation.

  • Key Points of Reagan's Victory: Foreign policy embarrassments under Carter played a crucial role in Reagan's success.

Foreign Policy Failures of the Carter Administration

  • Key Situation: Iran Hostage Crisis

    • Hostages taken at the American embassy during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

    • Failed rescue mission by Carter is highlighted as a significant failure.

    • Hostages were held until the end of Carter's term, damaging his credibility.

  • Carter's Foreign Policy Approach:

    • Idealist and cooperative with the Soviet Union.

    • Attempt to limit support for dictatorial regimes, emphasizing human rights.

    • Example: Upholding relationships with allies like Saudi Arabia despite concerns over their governing methods.

Historical Background: Iran

  • Coup of 1953: Overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh by the CIA (Kermit Roosevelt).

  • Impact of Coup: Installed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who became a brutal autocrat.

  • Backlash (Blowback): Complex repercussions from U.S. intervention resulting in the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

    • Revocation led to the Shah's overthrow.

    • Resulted in anti-American sentiment and the hostage crisis.

Characteristics of Reagan’s Foreign Policy

  • General Approach: Shift from Carter's idealism to a more assertive realist strategy.

  • Key Concepts:

    • Peace through Strength: Reagan’s slogan suggesting military prowess secures peace.

    • Military Spending Increase: Substantial rise in defense budgets during his presidency.

Second Term and Arms Control

  • Election Victory: Reagan won re-election in 1984 by a landslide.

  • Negotiating Nuclear Arms Reductions:

    • Initiation of strategic arms limitations started under Carter, continued into Reagan’s term with agreements such as SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) and START (Strategic Arms Reduction Talks).

    • Outcomes: Reduction of nuclear weapons stockpiles; although full implementation of START II never occurred.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

  • Common Name: Star Wars: A proposal for using space-based systems to protect against nuclear missile attacks.

  • Critiques:

    • Feasibility questioned due to high costs and technological limitations.

    • Potential implications for Nuclear Deterrence Theory—could disrupt the mutually assured destruction balance.

The Reagan Doctrine and U.S. Intervention

  • Reagan Doctrine: Shift from containment of communism to rollback—actively seeking to undermine communist governments.

  • Examples of U.S. Actions:

    • Grenada (1983): Military intervention to overthrow a government.

    • Nicaragua: Support for Contra rebels against the Sandinista government, leading to the Iran-Contra scandal.

    • Angola: Support for anti-communist movements despite human rights atrocities.

Legacy and Comparison with Bush Administration

  • George H.W. Bush: Elected in 1988, characterized by significant geopolitical events.

    • Key Event: Soviet Union's collapse; regarded as the most significant political shift since World War II.

  • Nature of the Collapse: Notable for being largely peaceful compared to historical uprisings, posing questions about governance and legitimacy.

  • Discussion Points Around Peaceful Transitions: Factors contributing include legitimacy of governments and military loyalty.

Interaction with Other Course Materials

  • Comparative Analysis: Opportunities exist to compare Reagan’s foreign policy as depicted in the course material with specific examples from other readings, such as those by Perkins.