Foreign Policy: Crash Course Government and Politics #50

Summary

In this final episode of Crash Course Government and Politics, Craig explores the paradox of U.S. foreign policy—both its utmost importance and its relative lack of public attention. He delves into the multiple facets of foreign policy, including security, economics, and international human rights, while also highlighting its complexities, from military deterrence to global trade. Craig discusses the roles of the president, Congress, and bureaucracies in shaping foreign policy, and the challenges of balancing security with democratic values. The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of understanding U.S. foreign policy for all citizens.

Takeaways

• 😀 Foreign policy is paradoxical: it’s both the most and least important aspect of government. While it affects global safety and economic policy, it’s often overlooked by the public unless the U.S. is at war.
• 😀 U.S. foreign policy includes diplomacy, military and security policy, international human rights policies, economic policies (such as trade), and environmental policy.
• 😀 Security is the primary goal of U.S. foreign policy, encompassing not only physical defense but also cyber-security, food security, energy, and transportation security.
• 😀 Historically, U.S. foreign policy has been isolationist, with George Washington urging minimal foreign entanglements. However, both World Wars and the threat of nuclear weapons shifted the U.S. towards global involvement.
• 😀 Deterrence, the strategy of maintaining a powerful military to discourage threats, was a key U.S. security policy during the Cold War, though it’s less effective against modern threats like terrorism.
• 😀 Economic goals of foreign policy focus on expanding trade, maintaining access to foreign energy, promoting foreign investment, and keeping consumer prices low in the U.S.
• 😀 The U.S. has a complicated relationship with international human rights treaties and laws, often participating in peacekeeping efforts but avoiding full commitments like the International Criminal Court.
• 😀 U.S. foreign policy is generally seen as the least democratic because it’s shaped primarily by the president, bureaucracy, and experts, with limited involvement from the public or Congress.
• 😀 The president plays a central role in foreign policy as the chief diplomat and negotiator, but the day-to-day work is handled by agencies like the State Department, CIA, and Department of Defense.
• 😀 Congress has a limited role in foreign policy, mainly through its power of the purse (budgeting for defense and foreign aid) and ratifying treaties. It occasionally tries to assert itself on hot-button issues like Iran’s nuclear deal.
• 😀 Interest groups can influence U.S. foreign policy, especially those focused on specific issues like trade or human rights, but they are less effective in shaping broader policy compared to the executive branch and bureaucracy.

Q & A

What is the paradox of foreign policy in the U.S.?

Foreign policy is paradoxical because it is both the most important and least important aspect of government. It's crucial because it affects global security, economic prosperity, and environmental issues. However, it's the least important in terms of how Americans engage with or think about their government, unless the U.S. is at war.

How does foreign policy impact the U.S. economy?

Foreign policy impacts the U.S. economy by promoting trade, foreign investment, and ensuring access to vital resources like energy. It also includes the U.S.'s participation in international economic organizations such as the World Trade Organization and various regional trade agreements.

Why is U.S. foreign policy considered the least democratic?

U.S. foreign policy is considered the least democratic because it is primarily shaped by the President and bureaucrats in agencies like the State Department, CIA, and NSA. While Congress has some involvement, especially in terms of funding, it doesn't have as direct a role as in other areas of policy.

What role does the U.S. President play in foreign policy?

The President plays a central role in U.S. foreign policy as the chief diplomat, handling negotiations, receiving ambassadors, and making critical decisions. The President has the authority to negotiate treaties, though these often require Senate approval, and can issue executive agreements to bypass the Senate.

What are the main goals of U.S. foreign policy?

The main goals of U.S. foreign policy are: ensuring national security, promoting economic growth and prosperity, and making the world a better place through initiatives like human rights advocacy and environmental policy.

What is the difference between U.S. security policy before and after World War II?

Before World War II, U.S. security policy was largely isolationist, focusing on repelling invaders. After World War II, with the advent of long-range bombers and ICBMs, security policy shifted to deterrence, maintaining military strength to discourage threats. Today, it also focuses on emerging threats like terrorism.

Why does military force have significant downsides in U.S. foreign policy?

Military force has downsides because it is costly in terms of lives and money. Additionally, long wars tend to lose public support, making military intervention politically risky.

How do interest groups influence U.S. foreign policy?

Interest groups can influence U.S. foreign policy by lobbying for specific issues, such as trade deals or human rights. Industry groups may push for favorable trade agreements, while ethnic-based groups may lobby for policies related to their country of origin.

What role does Congress play in foreign policy?

Congress has a limited role in foreign policy, mainly through its power to ratify treaties and control the budget. While the Senate ratifies treaties, the President often bypasses this with executive agreements. Congress also influences foreign policy through hearings and budget allocations, particularly in defense spending.

What is the relationship between environmental policy and foreign policy?

Environmental policy is both a domestic and foreign policy issue. While the U.S. sets domestic environmental standards, it also engages in global environmental initiatives. However, the U.S. has been criticized for lagging behind other nations in international environmental agreements despite being a major polluter.