American Foreign Policy: Where Should We Go?

Where Should We Go?

The world of politics, as we know it, is changing and how American foreign policy is developed will determine the position of the nation in a new world order. American foreign policy is the most significant in global politics. The United States has risen to be the greatest superpower in the world. As a result, international politics and the global economy are significantly pertinent to American politics and vice versa. The primacy the United States has attained, has granted the nation a powerful position within the world, with unique abilities in regards to soft and hard power. The diplomatic relations of the United States, its military power, and versatile economy are elements that make the country unique. The matter at

It is important to understand how the events that are taking place in countries across the globe are indicative of the needs of the international community. The international system is currently unraveling. The middle east is a prime example of this. There is the assault of the terrorist group Islamic State known as ISIS, which has managed to grow and fund its operations by means of the territory it has acquired. The United States has begun assaulting oil processing facilities under ISIS control in order to weaken the terrorist group financially (Thompson). In Syria, the extremist Islamic movement is forcing Christians out of the country. Syrians are seeking political asylum in various countries (Allen). This case in international politics is an example of trans-sovereign problems. These are problems that cannot be solved by an individual nation alone. Multiple nations have become increasingly involved with the civil war Syria in various ways. It is also an example of asymmetrical warfare which is becoming increasingly popular. Although terrorism is not new, it has achieved new

I don’t believe an organizing principle is required or that a universal doctrine would work. International matters should be addressed in an ad hoc manner. Though American involvement may not appear coherent, it is effective. For example, the U.S. was supporting Sunni rebels against a Shiite government in Syria and a Shiite government against Sunni rebels in Iraq (Gordon). Though American foreign policy may have appeared contradictory, it was working towards the stability of each nation-state in which way it was in the people’s best interest. “U.S. foreign policy of the past 25 years should be called "Incoherent America," because from Somalia to Afghanistan to Iraq to relations with Russia and China, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have improvised responses to problems and crises as they arose” (Bremmer). The incoherence in the US foreign policy in regards to Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, and China is evidence that a universal foreign policy or doctrine would not work. The setting in each scenario was completely distinct one from