As we will discuss in class, foreign policy is dominated by the executive branch far more that any other area of public policy. This has been the case since the beginning of the nation and was one of the factors leading to the drafting and ratification of the Constitution. Foreign policy was weak under the Articles of Confederation.
In a previous post - click here for it - I provided a list of the various "doctrines" that have been developed over history. This is likely incomplete, but it provides a look at how the nation's orientation towards the world has changed over time. Notice that these doctrines become common after WW2 and the positioning of the US as a major player in world affairs.
1823: Monroe Doctrine
1842: Tyler Doctrine.
1904: Roosevelt Corollary.
1932: Stimson Doctrine
1933: Good Neighbor policy.
1947: Truman Doctrine
1957: Eisenhower Doctrine
1961: Kennedy Doctrine
1965: Johnson Doctrine
1969: Nixon Doctrine
1980: Carter Doctrine
1981: Kirkpatrick Doctrine
1984: Weinberger Doctrine
1985: Reagan Doctrine
1990: Powell Doctrine
1999: Clinton Doctrine
2002: Bush Doctrine
2002: Rumsfeld Doctrine
Some highlights:
Monroe Doctrine: "The Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. foreign policy regarding domination of the American continent in 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonize land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring U.S. intervention."
Roosevelt Corollary: ". . . the United States will intervene in conflicts between European countries and Latin American countries to enforce legitimate claims of the European powers, rather than having the Europeans press their claims directly."
Stimson Doctrine: ". . . a policy of the United States federal government, enunciated in a note of January 7, 1932, to Japan and China, of non-recognition of international territorial changes that were executed by force."
Good Neighbor policy: "The policy's main principle was that of non-intervention and non-interference in the domestic affairs of Latin America. It also reinforced the idea that the United States would be a “good neighbor” and engage in reciprocal exchanges with Latin American countries."
Truman Doctrine: ". . . an American foreign policy to stop Soviet imperialism during the Cold War. It was announced to Congress by President Harry S. Trumanon March 12, 1947 when he pledged to contain Soviet threats to Greece and Turkey. No American military force was involved; instead Congress appropriated a free gift of financial aid to support the economies and the militaries of Greece and Turkey.
Eisenhower Doctrine: ". . . a Middle Eastern country could request American economic assistance or aid from U.S. military forces if it was being threatened by armed aggression from another state. Eisenhower singled out the Soviet threat in his doctrine."
Kennedy Doctrine: " . . . support for the containment of Communism and the reversal of Communist progress in the Western Hemisphere."
Johnson Doctrine: ". . . , domestic revolution in the Western Hemisphere would no longer be a local matter when "the object is the establishment of a Communist dictatorship"
Nixon Doctrine: ". . . the United States would assist in the defense and developments of allies and friends," but would not "undertake all the defense of the free nations of the world." This doctrine meant that each ally nation was in charge of its own security in general, but the United States would act as a nuclear umbrella when requested."
Carter Doctrine: ". . . the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf."
Kirkpatrick Doctrine: "The doctrine was used to justify the U.S. foreign policy of supporting Third World anti-communist dictatorships during the Cold War. . . . Kirkpatrick claimed that states in the Soviet bloc and other Communist states were totalitarian regimes, while pro-Western dictatorships were authoritarian ones. According to Kirkpatrick, totalitarian regimes were more stable and self-perpetuating than authoritarian regimes, and thus had a greater propensity to influence neighboring states."
Weinberger Doctrine: ". . . a list of points governing when the United States could commit troops in military engagements. The doctrine was . . . an outgrowth of the collective lessons learned from the Vietnam War and the desire of the U.S. government to avoid such quagmires in the future."
Reagan Doctrine: ". . . the United States provided overt and covert aid to anti-communist guerrillas and resistance movements in an effort to "roll back" Soviet-backed communist governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The doctrine was designed to diminish Soviet influence in these regions as part of the administration's overall Cold War strategy."
Powell Doctrine: " . . . based in large part on the Weinberger Doctrine . . . The doctrine emphasizes U.S. national security interests, overwhelming strike capabilities with an emphasis on ground forces, and widespread public support."
Clinton Doctrine: It contains "three foreign policy priorities: "updating and restructuring American military and security capabilities, elevating the role of economics in international affairs, and promoting democracy abroad."
Bush Doctrine: " . . . a phrase used to describe various related foreign policy principles . . . 'unilaterally withdrawing from the ABM treaty and rejecting the Kyoto protocol.' After 9/11 the phrase described the policy that the United States had the right to secure itself against countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups, which was used to justify the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan."
Rumsfeld Doctrine: " . . . seeks to increase force readiness and decrease the amount of supply required to maintain forces, by reducing the number in a theater. The basic tenets of this military strategy are: High-technology combat systems, Reliance on air forces, and Small, nimble ground forces."
Appraisals of the "Obama Doctrine" to follow.
