Liberal Arts and Nursing

Foreign policy is one of the major issues that have played a critical role in the history of the United States. The significance of foreign policy in America’s governance system is shown in the influential role it plays during U.S. Presidential Elections. Foreign policy has been at the center of America’s politics, especially in the recent past because of the increased global security concerns. While foreign policy remains controversial issue in the United States, it’s derived from the nation’s democratic system. Presidential candidates and policymakers in the U.S. take different foreign policy perspectives that are geared towards safeguarding the interests of American people. In this regard, United States’ foreign policy is shaped by different policy traditions or schools of thought.

President Obama’s foreign policy fell into liberal foreign policy tradition, which is based on the belief that most countries will cooperate if adequate goodwill and confidence is established between them (Ondrejcsák, 2009). This foreign policy tradition is evident in President Obama’s approach when dealing with rogue states that were considered threats to America’s homeland security and global security. Throughout his presidency, the Obama Administration focused on extending goodwill to such states and others as means for promoting America’s democratic values and national interests.
There are four common schools of thought that shape foreign policy in the United States i.e. Wilsonians, Jeffersonians, Jacksonians, and Hamiltonians traditions. President Obama’s foreign policy fell into Wilsonian tradition, which places emphasis on the moral obligation for America to promote democratic values beyond its borders (The Economist, 2001). The Wilsonian school of thought is also based on the belief that a country’s national interest is embedded on extending the rule of law across the globe (Mead, 2001). Through his foreign policy ideologies, President Obama focused on extending the rule of law worldwide by promoting America’s democratic values. Additionally, President Obama believed that America’s national interest was rooted in its extension of the rule of law worldwide.
An example of a foreign policy event that demonstrates President Obama’s Wilsonian school of thought is through his conciliatory approach towards Russia and Iran (Mead, 2010). President Obama adopted a conciliatory approach when dealing with Russia and Iran, which was characterized with reciprocal concessions. While critics considered this approach as a demonstration of weakness and wavering willpower, the Obama Administration believed that it was the best ideology towards achievement of America’s national interest. In this case, the Obama Administration considered non-military solutions as suitable diplomatic approaches.
The second foreign policy event in the Obama Administration that demonstrated Wilsonian school of thought is his approach towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. In March 2009, President Obama issued his “Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan”, in which he focused on terminating military presence in Iraq and re-orientation towards Afghanistan (Ondrejcsák, 2009). President Obama opposed the war in Iraq and believed that it was necessary for America to focus on Afghanistan because Al-Qaeda is headquartered in Afghanistan rather than Iraq.
The third example that shows Wilsonian school of thought in President Obama’s foreign policy is reflected in the Obama Administration’s handling of the Syrian crisis. Despite facing widespread criticism, President Obama opted against carrying out threats against Bashar al-Assad (Ferguson, 2016). The Obama Administration was reluctant to deploy American troops to Syria because of the principles that guided his opposition to the Iraq War. Additionally, President Obama believed that Bashar al-Assad would use civilians as human shields in case of any U.S. military intervention.
References
Ferguson, N. (2016, March 13). Barack Obama’s Revolution in Foreign Policy. Retrieved October 3, 2017, from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/03/obama-doctrine-revolution/473481/
Mead, W.R. (2001). Special providence: American foreign policy and how it changed the world. Madison Avenue, NY: Taylor & Francis Group.
Mead, W.R. (2010, January 4). The Carter Syndrome. Foreign Policy. Retrieved October 3, 2017, from http://foreignpolicy.com/2010/01/04/the-carter-syndrome/
Ondrejcsák, R. (2009). American Foreign and Security Policy Under Barack Obama: Change and Continuity. Retrieved October 3, 2017, from http://cenaa.org/analysis/american-foreign-and-security-policy-under-barack-obama-change-and-continuity/
The Economist. (2001). Four Threads, One Mighty Rope. The Economist. Retrieved October 3, 2017, from http://www.economist.com/node/863363