“The history of international politics is the history of the rise and fall of great powers.” - Fareed Zakaria

History

The year was 1776, and a group of thirteen young North American colonies declared their independence over conflicting policies with their colonizer, the British Empire, and formed a new nation. The name of that nation became the United States of America, and it has gone on to become the most dominant nation in world history.

The United States’ foreign policy has a broad history and dynamic from the founding days of the young nation till this moment. From Jefferson-advocated isolationism post-Revolutionary war to 1918’s World War I armistice and the reluctant entry into World War II in 1941, over the years, the nation’s approach has gradually evolved through several areas: Isolationism, idealism, realism, liberal internationalism, and hard and soft power¹.

The cold war was also another watershed moment in U.S. foreign policy history and its triumph to emerge as the sole global superpower following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ever since the United States’ economic and geopolitical influence, the world over has been unmatched and unparalleled.

Importance

It is commonly said that politicians begin wars, soldiers fight them, and the people suffer the consequences. In his text History of the Peloponnesian War, the ancient Athenian historian and military general Thucydides posited that "it was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable"².

From the rise of Greece to Persia, or that of Athens and Sparta to Rome, the rise of every great power through history has always held precedents, and their fall left future nations with lessons to be learned. Also, it was George Santayana who famously said, “those who do not learn the lessons of history, are doomed to repeat them.”

For these reasons, it is of utmost importance to re-orient the United States foreign policy approach from its current dysfunctional trajectory to a more efficient and inclusive one that embodies and portrays the realities and meets the demands of a globalized twenty-first-century world that it has helped build.

Challenges and Recommendations

Firstly, the United States must accept the reality that a globalized world is irreversible in its consequences. By this, the policymakers in Washington have to come to terms with the truth that nations are now more knowledgeable of the possibilities that exist with them being independent and assertive.

A more globalized, interconnected, and interdependent world has ensured that countries like Iran and Russia, whose economic might do not match the United States, still remain relevant regional powers because, though weak economically (in comparison), nonetheless, their participation thrives on the sale of resources (i.e., oil, gas, minerals, etc.), and consequently make them active players in the world economy.

This, in turn, spills over into military influence as seen. Being faced with this reality calls for tact and caution in dealing with such countries. More specifically, there is a need to prioritize the strategic over the tactical on many occasions, as far as interests are concerned. The rise of China is a huge testament to this.

‍

Also, world leaders like Russian president Vladimir Putin have argued that the relationship of the West with the rest is never that of partners and equals but that of smaller states being forced to act as vassals to more advanced states.³ While this may not be totally true, the practicality of it is sometimes felt in foreign policy failures like the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The geopolitical realities before us do portray the existence of regional powers and superpowers, but flexing these muscles from time to time would have to be done with the consciousness and considerations of others. Critics of the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars often cite that the United States unilaterally invaded Afghanistan because it could and had the resources to pull it off.

While some others may be dismissive of such perspectives, labeling its proponents as being supportive of terrorism, the fact remains that incapable militaries do not invade sovereign countries over seven thousand miles away. Whether Libya, Iraq, or Afghanistan, everywhere the American war machine went, it never remained the same.

To counter arguments like this and rectify her standings along this path, Western diplomacy, particularly the United States, must be structured to treat others as partners and equals, not vassals or subordinates. Many analysts have posited from time to time that many nations at odds with Washington, like Russia and China, just want to be heard or listened to and have their views respected like equals.

‍

Acknowledgement

The Institute for Youth in Policy wishes to acknowledge Marielle DeVos, Paul Kramer, Sydni Faragalli, Carlos Bindert, and other contributors for developing and maintaining the 2022 Summer Fellowship program within the Institute.

Citation

MLA: Awe, Mobolaji. “Perfecting the United States Foreign Policy Approach.” The Institute For Youth in Policy, Institute For Youth in Policy, 14 Sept. 2022, https://cite.yipinstitute.org/f7wtgIp.

APA: Awe, M. (2022, September 14). Perfecting the United States Foreign Policy Approach. The Institute For Youth in Policy. Retrieved [INSERT TODAY'S DATE], from https://cite.yipinstitute.org/f7wtgIp

Works Cited

1. https://pressbooks.online.ucf.edu/americangovernment2e/chapter/approaches-to-foreign-policy/
2.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thucydides_Trap
3. https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-russia-economy-strong-despite-western-sanctions-oil-prices/2722076.html
4. https://www.voanews.com/a/putin-russia-economy-strong-despite-western-sanctions-oil-prices/2722076.html
5. https://www.humanrightspulse.com/mastercontentblog/humanitarian-impact-of-sanctions-on-venezuela
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzVRiN_ga8&t=3s

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/globe-on-sand-346696/