Civics U: Is Foreign Policy Foreign?
Foreign policy encompasses the policies and strategies that the government uses in dealing with other – i.e., foreign nations. It covers many things, but it’s ultimate purpose is to protect and pursue the country’s own self-interest.
This self-interest covers many areas – economic, military, technological, cultural, and more; and foreign policy is a means, not an end in itself. The ends or goals may be national or international peace, national security, world power or influence, economic prosperity or profit. Foreign policy may govern or require, variously, the use of diplomacy, military action, economic leverage through tariffs and trade embargoes, (secret) intelligence gathering, treaties and alliances, and membership in international organizations.
The Department of State is generally in charge of foreign policy – that is, in charge of carrying out the President’s foreign policy. It may be considered the broadest in scope of any of the federal government departments, and the Secretary of State may be considered the most powerful and senior of the heads of the (currently) 15 executive departments. As such, after the Vice-President, Speaker of the House, and President pro tempore of the Senate, the Secretary is the first of the cabinet department heads in the line of succession to fill a vacancy of the Presidency in case of an emergency.
Congress also has a critical role in foreign policy. It is the Congress that has the power to declare war, and the responsibility to set and provide the budget for implementing foreign policy.
Nevertheless, foreign policy and foreign affairs often seem somewhat distant. People are more likely to discuss domestic and local affairs, and feel they have little direct input into foreign policy. But when specific “incidents” happen, such as the recent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, or data “hacking” by foreign interests, or people crossing borders into the U.S. illegally, the people’s attention is drawn to U.S. relationships and involvement with other countries.
Neither is foreign policy divorced from American social and cultural values and internal domestic concerns. For example, in dealing with other countries the U.S. commonly pursues or attends to human rights – social, religious, and economic; and environmental and health effects in environmental and manufacturing practices, including, for example, chemicals in children’s products.
Historically a basic question in the setting of foreign policy is whether, in what ways, and to what extent, the U.S. should be involved with, and in, the affairs of other countries. Differing positions have ranged from isolationism to internationalism to globalism with corresponding emphases on the amount of independence and cooperation involved. U.S. involvement and actions have ranged from separation, to military engagement (from fighting to peace-keeping), to influencing and establishing or deposing foreign government leaders.
But the military remains the largest area in terms of budget. “To prepare for these foreign policy issues, U.S. military expenditures are enormous. The annual defense budget is around $1.3 trillion. It has formal or informal agreements to defend 37 countries. It has more than 700 military installations abroad in approximately 130 countries. The United States is extraordinarily active, often militarily, in international affairs. Since 1989, it has intervened in Panama, Kuwait, Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq.” Foreign Policy | Boundless Political Science (lumenlearning.com)
At the same time, in addition to military alliances (NATO and others), the U.S. continues to participate in diplomatic alliances (the United Nations, social-cultural and human rights programs); social-cultural exchanges; and treaties dealing with lands, armaments, environment, and technology.
And the fundamental questions remain: What is our country’s foreign policy? In what ways is the policy the same in dealing with all countries, or different for different countries? What foreign policy will best ensure our nation’s independence, security and prosperity? And to what extent can it also promote or protect the rights, freedom, and health of other countries and their citizens around the world?
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