MOD 17: US Foreign Policy and International Organizations

GOV 312L: US FOREIGN POLICY

Department of Government
Course Content: Focuses on the role of the United States within international organizations and institutions and their impact on global governance.

International Institutions and Organizations

• Definitions and Differences

  • Institutions: Rules and norms governing behavior in specific areas of international relations.

  • Organizations: Formal entities created to implement these rules; they have agency and pursue political objectives.

• Examples

  • Domestic: Electoral rules, criminal laws (e.g., don’t speed, don’t steal).

  • International: Sovereignty norms, treaties, United Nations (UN), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), World Trade Organization (WTO).

• Influence on International Politics

  • International institutions shape international relations by structuring states’ behaviors and creating frameworks for cooperation and conflict resolution.

• Participation and National Sovereignty Trade-Offs

  • States may trade some sovereignty to gain benefits from international cooperation, represented by participation in organizations like WTO.

Interstate Cooperation

• Definition

  • Coordination between states to reach mutually beneficial agreements or manage common problems.

• Impediments to Cooperation

  • Diverging national interests, lack of trust, uncertainties in compliance, domestic political pressures.

Global Governance and Incentives

• Reading Reference: Textbook Module 21: Global Governance

• Incentives for Governance

  • Addressing global issues like climate change, trade disputes, security threats.

  • The collective action problem: challenges arise due to the self-interested behavior of states not cooperating for common goals.

• Compliance and Enforcement Problems

  • Once agreements are established, international organizations often face enforcement issues, as they rely on state compliance without direct enforcement authority.

The United Nations (UN)

• Main Political Bodies

  • General Assembly: All member states participate and make decisions.

  • Security Council: Responsible for maintaining international peace, consists of five permanent members (US, UK, China, Russia, France) and ten rotating members.

• Legitimacy and Power

  • These bodies confer legitimacy on international actions, with permanent members having veto power affecting resolutions.

NATO: Historical Context

• Origins of NATO

  • Formed during the Cold War to counteract Soviet expansionism.

  • Lord Ismay's Quote: Described NATO's goals as: "to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down."

• Long-term Challenges

  • European nations relying on the US for defense contributions, termed "European shirking."

  • Criticism of NATO members not meeting defense spending commitments.

US Relations with International Organizations

• Participation in the UN

  • The US plays a key role due to its Security Council seat.

  • Participates to gain legitimacy for policies—e.g., securing approval for the Iraq War in 2003.

  • Domestic political dynamics are influenced by global public opinion reflected through the UN.

• Sovereignty vs. Legitimacy

  • Participation in international organizations may require the US to accept some limitations on sovereignty to achieve broader policy goals.

NATO and Modern Challenges

• NATO's Future

  • Tensions within NATO regarding defense commitments, illustrated by President Eisenhower's observations on "European shirking."

  • Current global conflicts, such as the conflict in Ukraine, continue to influence NATO's strength and cohesion.

Conclusion: Understanding the dynamics of international organizations like the UN and NATO is crucial for analyzing US foreign policy and global governance strategies. Participation in these institutions involves balancing national sovereignty with the benefits of international cooperation.