How and to what extent do domestic factors affect the nature of U.S. relations with other democratic states?

Résumé du document

The manifestation of the American hegemony since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 has created a new pattern for international relations in which the United States is the ‘hyper power' everyone has to take into consideration before acting. France, once one of the most important countries in the world during the time of her colonial empire, is now, with Germany and the United Kingdom, among the leaders of the European Union. This still relative influence in the world affairs has lead to a high number of its leaders to preach the value of a multi-polar world, in which the French nation could play a greater role. This claim for better distribution of powers can also be considered as an attempt by France to require more consideration from the United States. But the problem is that the French government, like a number of other countries throughout the world, tends to neglect the fact that the American foreign policy is shaped by domestic-level factors. These ones would affect the nature of the US relations with any other countries, and more particularly its own allies.

Extraits

[...] These ones would affect the nature of US relations with any other countries, and more particularly its own allies. I will try to show how American relations with other democratic states have been influenced by the domestic level of decision making in the United States, to finally wonder to what extent the American political culture can explain some incomprehensions between her and certain states, especially in Europe. The first case to study to appreciate the importance of domestic level factors in the intervention (or non intervention) of the Unites States on the international scene is without any doubt World War One, and its legacies. [...]

[...] This without any consideration for the nation own interests, which seemed to disagree with the American principles of self-government. In spite of all his attempts President Wilson did not achieve to convince the Senate to sign the treaty in its first shape, and better than changing, the president preferred to ask those who were in favour to vote against the ratification with reservations. As a consequence the Treaty was never ratified by the United States which condemned the League of Nations to be a useless organization as the most important country in the world, and the only able to maintain order after the damage of World War One in Europe, was not a member. [...]

[...] However in the same year the Senate refused to ratify the treaty. In spite of the fact that President Wilson himself was the one who had inspired the Treaty and that this project was extremely important to him and did everything to promote his ideas, President Wilson's uncompromising will only alienated him the Senate. If most of the senators favored it, the two-thirds necessary to ratify could not be found. Senator Lodge, leaded a group mainly compounded by pragmatist internationalists Republicans as he was, demanded reservations especially to Article 10 of the League Covenant as this one established that nations should agree on what should be done in the event of a breach. [...]

[...] But then in May of 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed and sunk the “Lusitania', this recasts the course of events. Among the 1000 victims were 128 Americans. The United States strongly condemned this act, and so did the public opinion which moved in favor of war. However, after British revelations that certain American companies had violated a trade boycott with the Germans, it was difficult for Wilson to act. This all the more that new elections were coming in November 1916. On the campaign slogan has kept us out of Wilson is re-elected. [...]

[...] To what extent and how do domestic-level factors affect the nature of U.S. relations with other democratic states? The manifestation of the American hegemony since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 has created a new pattern for the international relations in which the United States are the ‘hyperpower' everyone has to take into consideration before acting. France, once one of the most important countries in the world at the time of her colonial empire, is now with Germany and the United Kingdom among the leaders of the European Union. [...]