Seminar in US Foreign Policy
(USFP)
Weeks 1 & 2
Dave McCuan
Masaryk University
Fall 2009
What is the Role & Importance of
"Exceptionalism" in USFP?
* What do we mean by the term,
"exceptionalism?"
* What values/traits/characteristics come
with this term?
* What are the conflicts among "exceptional
democracies" when confronting other
nations and engaging in foreign relations?
* What are the "influences on USFP" that
are affected by "exceptionalism?"
Concept of Democracy
* Democracy should
reflect the idea &
interest of the people.
* Democracy is about
participation of the
people in political
structure &
accountability of the
rulers to the voters.
Challenges of Democracy
* Place of non-state actors is very significant.
* Equality & Democracy: `how much equality is required
for a fully developed democratic system is a
fundamental issue for democracy. Dahl (2001)notes
the spread of democracy & equality during the
twentieth century. He believes while the advanced
welfare democracies of the late twentieth century
started to bring about greater equality, these advances
have been reversed in the last twenty years.
* National democracy in price of trans-national
dictatorship & war is another challenge of democracy.
Typologies of Democracy
* In philosophical theory, there are two major
democracies today:
* Liberal democracy: Liberal democracy justifies the
vote of majority; its major concern is to get more
participation of the people.
* Democratic Liberalism: democratic liberalism do not
care for Majority to be involve in politics, but it
respect the vote & participation of elites & experts of
the society for the benefits of people (Bellamy, 1999).
* In reality, democracy is very ideological.
Ideology & Democracy
* James F. Bohman (1991: 93) identified
four necessary but not sufficient conditions
of communication for democratic decision
making: such agreements must (1) be
formally & procedurally correct, (2) be
cognitively adequate, (3) concern issues
on which consensus or compromise can
be reached, & (4) be free of ideology.
Ideological Democracy
* Ideological
democracy refers to
ruling the society
overtly by democracy
& covertly by an
economical ideology.
* Here democracy
considered as a good
language for
domination policy.
Democracy, Ideology & Patriotism
* Democracy depends on vote of people of
the state.
* Democracy was an innovation of nationstate
& it is therefore very patriotic. While
democracy may suit national community, it
can be threat for trans-national of millions
of masses out of the territory.
The International System
* Westphalian system
­ Since 1648, states (sovereign, territorially based)
have been primary actors
* Explosion in number of states post WWII
­ No enforcement power above states; thus self-help
system dependent on exercise of power
* Power is a relative concept; a zero-sum game (thus, consider
effect that more states causes)
* Types of power: military, economic, moral, cultural (Hard/soft;
high politics/low politics)
* Security Dilemma
* Polarity
Elements of Nat'l Power
* Geography
* Natural resources
* Industrial capacity
* Military Preparedness
* Population
* National Character
* National Morale
* Quality of Diplomacy
The International System
* Non-state actors' importance
­ International institutions; transnational NGOs;
Multinational firms
­ Do they have independent effect, or are they
tools of the strong?
Int'l System, cont'd
* Globalization
­ Integration allowing easy international
transactions
­ Is globalization changing the Westphalian
system?
* Threat to sovereignty? To cultural values?
Fragmenting effect?
Int'l System, cont'd
* American Hegemony
­ Imperialism? Exceptionalism? (Does it
matter???)
­ Good or bad for the world? For the United
States?
* International Stability (good, bad, or
contextual?)
Grand Strategy
­ Grand Strategy: The use of all the instruments
of power, or tools, at the disposal of the
nation, in pursuit of the national interests
* Political (diplomacy, official international relations)
* Economic (trade, finance, technology)
* Military (force: threatened or actual)
* Cultural (value propagation: information, literature,
media, music)
Grand Strategy
* Grand Strategy: A comprehensive, longterm
guide to meeting particular interests
(establishing objectives)
* Strategy: A means to an end; the link
between resources (tools) & how they will
be used; but it implies active opposition &
thus must reflect dynamism
* Policies: Detailed plans implementing a
strategy (similar to tactics)
Dimensions of Strategy
* Forces do not have inherent strategic
effect; rather it is the purpose for which
forces are used that provides strategic
effect.
* Strategy involves elements of interaction;
when implementing a preferred strategy,
an actor must take into account the
adversary's probable reactions.
Grand Strategy
* US cannot do all things; limited resources
­ Cannot put out all fires, must distribute resources
according to interests; thus, must prioritize
* US leaders must identify national interests &
persuade US public on necessity of protecting
these (US public historically indifferent to foreign
policy)
­ Note failure of US to obtain public support for foreign
policy in Vietnam; inconsistent approach re Iraq today
Strategic Diplomacy
1. Determine objectives in light of available
power
2. Determine objectives of others & the
power they have
3. Determine extent to which these
objectives are compatible
4. Employ the means best suited to the
pursuit of objectives