U.S. Foreign Policy, Human Rights, and the Myth of Virtuous Power
This essay examines the foundational role of human rights in American foreign policy, arguing that the two are inseparable due to shared Enlightenment values embedded in U.S. culture and governance. Using Jimmy Carter's controversial 2002 visit to Cuba and President George W. Bush's simultaneous engagement with China as parallel case studies, the paper draws on John Kane's analysis of what he calls the "myth of virtuous American power." The essay explores the tensions that arise when American leaders — past and present — act on human rights convictions that sometimes conflict with current diplomatic strategy, and considers the risks and responsibilities of a nation that positions itself as a moral exemplar in world affairs.
- Introduction: Human Rights as the Soul of American Foreign Policy: Human rights as core driver of U.S. foreign policy
- Carter in Cuba: A Former President Stirs Controversy: Carter's 2002 Havana visit provokes political controversy
- Bush in China: A Mirror Image of Carter's Mission: Bush echoes Carter's human rights themes in China
- Enlightenment Roots of American Foreign Policy Values: Western Enlightenment origins of U.S. policy values
- The Myth of Virtuous American Power: Risks of moral overreach in American foreign policy
- Conclusion: Virtue, Politics, and World Leadership: Balancing virtue and politics in global leadership
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What makes this paper effective
- It grounds its argument in a concrete, newsworthy event — Carter's 2002 Havana visit — and uses it to illuminate a broader theoretical tension in U.S. foreign policy.
- It draws a compelling parallel between Carter's Cuba mission and Bush's China visit, using the comparison to challenge the consistency of the administration's criticism.
- It engages directly with a named academic source (Kane, 2003) and uses it as an analytical framework rather than merely as background information.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of a single scholarly article as an organizing lens. Rather than surveying multiple sources, the student uses Kane's concept of "virtuous American power" to structure the entire argument, weaving it through historical examples, current events, and a normative conclusion. This technique — anchoring an essay to one theoretically rich source — is a strong undergraduate strategy for producing a focused, coherent argument.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with a broad definitional claim about U.S. foreign policy and human rights, then narrows to the Carter-Cuba episode before expanding outward to compare it with Bush's China visit. The middle sections trace the Enlightenment origins of American values and introduce Kane's critique of moral overreach. The conclusion returns to the opening thesis, arguing that despite the risks, the fusion of virtue and politics is both inevitable and valuable for American global leadership. Total length is moderate, appropriate for an undergraduate analytical essay.
Introduction: Human Rights as the Soul of American Foreign Policy
American foreign policy occupies a unique place in the world. It is a non-homogeneous mixture of politics, economics, and the distinctive American cultural belief that the success of political and economic agendas cannot be separated from the way a country treats its people. Specifically, America has a difficult time forming positive relationships with nations that oppress, imprison, or otherwise trample their citizens' basic human rights to life, liberty, and the individual pursuit of happiness. As President Jimmy Carter stated during his administration, the connection between human rights and American foreign policy is fundamental:
"Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood." (White House ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, December 6, 1978)
American foreign policy is also understood as a function of the presidency. The president must take the lead in presenting to the world a cohesive message that represents both America's past actions and any new initiatives unique to his administration. As a result, when a person or group of people travel to another nation and make statements that can be perceived as representative of U.S. government policy — without first receiving clearance, approval, and support from the current administration — the political machinery rushes into action. Each side works to protect itself while simultaneously mounting damage-control efforts.
Bibliography
Allen, M., and P.P. Pan. Bush touts U.S. values to Chinese. Washington Post, February 22, 2002, p. A01.
Carter, J. Openings to Cuba: We must find common ground. Washington Post, May 24, 2002, p. A35.
Kane, John. American Values or Human Rights? U.S. Foreign Policy and the Fractured Myth of Virtuous Power. Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 33, 2003.
Sullivan, K. Carter urges democracy for Cuba. Washington Post, May 15, 2002, p. A14.
At White House ceremony commemorating 30th anniversary of UN Declaration of Human Rights, December 6, 1978.
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