American Foreign Policy

1760 Words4 Pages

American foreign policy is a fundamental aspect of American politics. Not only does it need expertise to ensure international relationships are maintained, but thought-out planning, because each decision made may have a direct impact on Americans. Impacts such as trade deals that increase business between nations, cyber security threats against private information, and continuing threats of war. American safety and quality of life is at risk with every deal negotiated and every treaty signed. Despite this, foreign policy is devalued by the American public due to various factors such as the complexity involved in understanding the issues, lack of public awareness, and widespread apathy towards foreign policy. While foreign policy remains an …show more content…

The only threat presented by an unaware constituency is the one against our own democracy. In understanding how this is possible first American foreign policy is explored using current events as examples. Then its importance in regards to our role in the international system, the issues it involves, and the impact it has on the citizens of the United States is examined. Once American foreign policy and its importance has been inspected, the reasons for which it is undervalued in American culture, despite its tremendous importance are considered. Finally, potential problems that could arise from this lack of unawareness is given a look. Helping to form these ideas and opinions, as well as echoing some of the same arguments, I will use Kaufman and Mead and their respective arguments to illustrate how foreign policy is essential, the ways in which it is undervalued in American culture, and how, despite its tremendous importance, this will not be problematic in the international system. Ultimately I will conclude that ambivalence is not always the case, as the extraordinary can be …show more content…

This will only hold true if Americans see, or rather feel the effects of foreign policy decisions. Therefore why might these other issues, the mundane, be consequently undervalued? The only times Americans will deeply concern themselves with foreign policy is when they feel it affecting their lives directly. Wars that send soldiers to foreign countries, trade that takes American jobs overseas, and the cost of oil affecting their gas prices are all topics that Americans will easily follow, due to the perceived negative impacts they hold. American culture has a tendency to devalue the importance of foreign policy because of a general ambivalence to the issues at hand. This is because it is regarded as not being crucial to everyday life. The mundane foreign policy issues do not elicit as much of a reaction as the extraordinary ones. It is perceived as not being crucial to everyday life. The impact of foreign policy decisions is not seen as much as other domestic issues such as unemployment and the economy.Kaufman touches on the challenges Americans face in understanding foreign policy. To sum up Kaufman’s point, it isn’t easy. Understanding foreign policy is no humble feat. Even as a political science major I struggle to understand the many different theories, definitions, and concepts. To expect the public to go to such a great length to form opinions would be nothing short of a miracle.

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