Milton Rokeach Foreign Policy Model

Rina Mendoza

PLSC 283-001

Exam 1

1. Foreign Policy

To define foreign policy in the simplest terms, would suggest it as the guidance that state’s use to interact with the rest of the world. Using the Foreign Policy Model, in order to obtain a Grand Vision of where America desires to be, decision-makers must take into account the nation’s values and interests. Similar to foreign policy, these two components possess multiple meanings that construct envisions of the future. However, values are best defined by Milton Rokeach who states values as, “enduring beliefs that a specific mode of conduct or end state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or end state of existence.” (Rokeach, 1973).

These values or “goods” are imperative for action that also indicates how one ought to behave. Our core beliefs or values have been defined by our Founding Fathers as Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and the country has even today stuck by

those central values (McCormick, 2014). This Grand Vision could never be obtained without setting goals and objectives. The goals and objectives lead to the development of a foreign policy leading the country to the end state that was envisioned (Class Discussion).
The second component involved in reaching a Grand Vision is interests, specifically national interests. They are viewed as necessary for a state to survive and prosper, and are structured depending on the nation’s core beliefs. To go into depth of national interests, Michael G. Roskin explains it as:
National interest lies at the very heart of the military and diplomatic professions and leads to the formulation of a national strategy and of the calculation of the power necessary to support that strategy. (Roskin, 1994).
National interests and values matter because it is essential to create foreign policy using national interests, as it is a foundation for protecting the state’s most precious values. Some believe that we should be choosing one or the other to guide foreign policy decisions, but it is true that both share grave importance. As summarized by Nathan Glazer, “American foreign policy is not simply national interest—although interest must always be a crucial factor—but also the defense of democracy and freedom?” (Glazer, 1976).
My opinion is to say that values and interests are both equally important and rely on one another to make the values approach work.

If we did not have values, citizens of the country would not see themselves as unique as they do today and there may be less patriotism or devotion to the country. Without values, there would not be interests for policy makers to base their decisions on. Interests protect our vital and secondary values as well as stabilize power that is distributed throughout the world. Though our national interests will change depending on the circumstances with the international community, even values can be subjected to change over time. Just using values as an approach to deal with the rest of the world would halt the country’s progression in its soft power and could have the potential to create great conflict with other states. Having interests, in addition to core beliefs, will allow foreign policy makers to do what is necessary to keep the country out of

harm.
2. American Values
McCormick sets the stage of the first chapter around values that shape the United States foreign policy. Because America was founded as a democratic nation, giving freedom to its citizens, equality of opportunity, justice for all and basic human rights, the American public simply cannot support a foreign policy that does not consider these values. The author blatantly states why he has focused values and beliefs as the theme of the book because policy actions are taken within a value context (McCormick, 2014 and Class Discussion).
America was indeed founded on a different set of values from the rest of the world which gave the inhabitants the idea of American Exceptionalism. In reference to how the United States perceives values, Americans see themselves as more unique than other countries because foreign policy makers make decisions based on their moral principles. This perception thus demands decision makers to use our domestic values to guide America’s political behavior. Having values shape the country and foreign policy has worked in our favor since the founding of the country. If this approach is neglected, the United States would lose everything is has stood for and lose its seat as a global leader. Other states do use their developed values to guide their behavior as well but not to the extent that the U.S. has, which is why McCormick says America’s foreign policy is mostly affected by the guidance of its values (Class Discussion).
McCormick states in the text, “. . . values and beliefs are the motivation for individual action-and because we make the assumption that foreign policy is ultimately the result of individual decisions. . .” (McCormick, 2014). In other words, if one wants to understand the reasoning’s as to why America has behaved towards international countries, they need to depict what values and beliefs motivated that behavior. Therefore, the reader can research which values determine America’s policy and actions, for we possess the value of self-government that allows individuals to have a say in how the government is run.
It is important to know if a political decision has been made in favor of a core American belief because it is up to the government to ensure that these core beliefs are protected and not corrupted by the elite or other states. This is the very reason that the authors talks about the balance of power. As America was expanding and growing more powerful, the country must be mindful of being viewed as a global superpower and also targeted by those seeking to obtain that power. The inhabitants have relinquished some of their individual power to a government that was meant to stay small in exchange for protection (Glazer, 1976). To only allow the nation to engage in global affairs if it is going to enhance our security, liberty and prosperity as well as international freedom. This is the cost of remaining a world superpower and being on the global center stage (Lindsay and Ivo, 2014). It is also crucial to know why the nation moves from isolationist/unilateral or multilateral approaches and what the end strategy will be.
McCormick discusses America’s isolationism from the birth of the country to the beginning of World War II. While some may believe that the way McCormick and other political scientists speak of isolationism as it is an American value, I do not agree that isolationism can be a value such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. During the first chapter, McCormick describes how the nation abandoned its isolationist views due to moral principle from the War of 1812 to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The country could not abandon our freedom like they have abandoned isolationism in times of crisis. The people would revolt and try to overthrow the government (McCormick, 2014).
Other values that have defined the United States American foreign policy is democracy and domestic values, American exceptionalism, the well-being of the society, the Bill of Rights that states our individual freedom and equality for all. There are more values that have diminished over long periods of time or the meaning of the value could have adopted new definitions depending on the era, however, these core values have stuck with the country since its founding.
These American values come from the documents that founded the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Federalist Papers. Of course, not every individual is going to share the exact values, but they have been established as values by most of the nation’s people. It was once that leaders or methodology characteristics presented their ideologies that the elites and masses agreed on using to shape our foreign policy (Class Discussion), such as in Washington’s Farewell Address he emphasized good faith and justice towards all nations in order to keep the peace (McCormick, 2014).
Equality has influenced our foreign policy by mutually agreeing with other states to have equal sovereignty to govern their own country to as they see fit (Nathan, 2009). Domestic values are used to guide our foreign policy to act according to our moral principles. The ideology of American Exceptionalism has created the stance that America will not let international communities interfere with our way of life. The foreign policy makers have decided that having security and a firm sense of society’s well-being results in the country maintaining their position as a global leader. However, this view was not always seen this way. Thomas Jefferson stated his opinions that foreign policy actually does not protect the nation’s individual freedom and society’s well-being (McCormick, 2014).
Individual freedom is also a core belief that all citizens possess. Foreign policy also acquired individualistic stances from giving foreign aid to other countries that need assistance, encouraging U.S. citizens not to join another country’s military force or placing an embargo on Cuba as examples (Vance, 2014). Towards the end of Chapter 1, McCormick uses an example from World War I that Germany’s Zimmermann Telegram to Mexico was used to encourage the United States to join the war by slogans such as ‘war to end all wars’ and ‘make the world safe for democracy’. Seeing as America was a democratic nation, democracy has influenced our foreign policy to enter a major war (McCormick, 2014).
3. Extra Credit
a. What is warping effects?
Warping effects is defined as the distortion of interests or ideologies but does not necessarily affect the survival and prosperity of a state.
b. Does the warping effect only affect our national interest or might it also affect values or other concepts?
c. Might the post factual/truthful world and alternative facts be effects of the warping effect
-explain why or why not.