International relations of the United States

Résumé du document

After WWII, the charter of United Nations prohibited war. But the real order after WWII was a bipolar world with a Cold War between two powers: US and URSS = Legal system vs. reality. At the end of cold war: the world needs a new order. The US becomes the only leader because it is the only remaining power. According to George Bush a new global word after '89 are possible, thanks to international organizations, which should rule the world. The reality is that the new American order instead of a global one is visible... It is the victory of US America hegemony.

Bill Clinton (pres in 93) defined the US foreign policy - that still exists today. What are the principles that shape their foreign policy?
Exceptionalism: assumption that US is the a unique country, SO it has the right to be the leader. Belief that American political policies (equality, capitalism, liberty, individualism,) are universally applicable: the whole world would be better off if they apply American principles. Pursuit of American interests and universal ideas go hand to hand. US has its personal interests. If they pursuit their interest in the middle east, it will also help the middle east.

Extraits

[...] The transatlantic rift over Iraq: France and Germany opposed the war in Iraq, contested unilateralism (Multilateralism is the rule in European power) Hard power, vs the soft power of economy that the economic union applies. Old Europe lives in Venus (calm & harmonious), different planet from US (in Mars= war, and conflict) Is Iraq war a failure? Still a debate. Up to now it is a failure. What is certain is that it weakened American global leadership. What about the other rogue states? [...]

[...] International relations of the United States The Climax of American world After WWII, the charter of United Nations prohibited war. But the real order after WWII was a bipolar world with a Cold War between 2 powers: US and URSS. = Legal system vs. reality. At the end of cold war: the world needs a new order. The US becomes the only leader because it is the only remaining power. According to George Bush a new global word after are possible, thanks to international organizations, which should rule the world. [...]

[...] RUSSIA Russia had a decline period, economic & political (dissolution of Soviet Union). Russia lost important parts of its sphere of influence, until '99 when Putin entered with Stabilization. Current issues: - Russia's relations to neighboring countries. Cf: Colored revolutions = a revolution in Georgia in 2003 - Democracy and Human rights - Energy as an instrument of foreign policy? o Dependency: Slovaquia is dependent 100% on Russian gas o Pricing policy, cutoff of supply for political reasons o Pipeline diplomacy: which territories the pipelines go through. [...]

[...] separatist region attacked by Georgia, Russia came to help South Ossetia) b. India: A non aligned country: neither east block nor west. But unofficially it had a close relation with the Soviet Union (while Pakistan is an ally of the US) Strategy of 3 concentric circles: o Primacy in its immediate neighborhood o Balance the power of Asia (never achieved really) o Rise to global power. Seminal date: 2005, GBush recognized India as a nuclear power. Consequences: For India: potentially joins the rank of China, France, Russia, the US, and GB. [...]

[...] It is a debate. Rising problems: - Demographic - Social - Environmental - Corruption Regional integration: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China + Russia + central Asian countries (Kurdistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc) Does it counterbalance the NATO and American hegemony? d. Global Governance New powers are striving for more global influence: The G8 The G20 The > References: - Political Theory and International Relations Charles R. Beitz Princeton: Princeton University Press - Power and interdependence ed KEOHANE Robert, NYE Joseph -The Political Economy of International Relations, Robert Gilpin - American Foreign Policy and Process, James M. [...]