U.S. Foreign Policy for the 21st Century

It’s always relatively easy in retrospect to see what went wrong and analyze the cause of failure. In previous posts, I have offered my own criticism of the conduct of U.S. foreign policy in the post-Cold War environment, especially during the tenure in office of George W. Bush. To summarize at a high level, I believe we have failed in three fundamental areas.

First, we failed to adequately understand the implications of the shifting balance of power away from the old bipolar system that prevailed during the Cold War to the emerging unipolar system that followed. Second, we failed to develop a clear and consistent vision for the much-talked-about “new world order” and the characteristics that should define it. Finally, we failed to engage other countries proactively to build and maintain effective coalitions and alliances and influence or transform those issues and states that threatened our interests.

The enduring preoccupation of our leaders with the foreign policy tools of the Cold War – those tools that make up what is known in foreign affairs circles as “hard” power, i.e., military and economic might – led them to focus too little attention and resources on building up our capacity to wield “soft” power, those cultural, diplomatic, aid and policy initiatives that have the potential to encourage behavior by other states and international organizations that are consistent with U.S. national interests. Furthermore, the application of hard power was frequently inadequate to achieve the stated objectives and often was perceived as being at odds with the principles of freedom, justice and equality for which we claim to stand, thus eroding our soft power.

As I have admitted, though, criticism of those in power is easy. Proposing a viable alternative is difficult. So, let’s begin the difficult work. What does an effective foreign policy and national security strategy for the United States look like in the 21st century? In order to effectively grapple with that question, I believe we must have a realistic view of our standing in the world today. I’ll invite your assessments before I give you mine.

How would you characterize the standing of the United States in the world today?

Inauguration Day

Today, we mark an incredible moment in the history of the world. I suppose one could see in this comment the hubris against which I have railed in prior postings, so let me explain. Despite our many shortcomings – and they are indeed many – I firmly believe that the United States of America is a critical experiment for humanity. Here we have endeavored very deliberately to walk a path toward a new vision of democratic government and a novel form of society.

In its pure form, this experiment embraces the Enlightenment (and Biblical) concept of radical egalitarianism – “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” The words of the Declaration of Independence embrace a philosophy of government that is the perfect form to which we aspire, a form that we have seldom, if ever, attained in practice.

Among our most egregious and offensive shortcomings is racial inequality. It has always been difficult for me to fathom how those who wrote and affirmed the words of the Declaration had so little trouble accepting and participating in slavery. It has been equally difficult to grasp how an entire nation could take so many years to undo this terrible evil and wipe its stain from the fabric of our guilty nation.

To be sure, the election of Barack Obama and his swearing in today as the 44th President of the United States does not, in itself, wash us clean. It does, nonetheless, restore a great measure of hope for our nation. In many ways, we hope to recommit ourselves to a government aspiring to the equality of all, the very aspiration that has eluded us for so long. But as President Obama has famously said, “In the unlikely story that is America , there has never been anything false about hope.”

Returning to my initial assertion regarding the magnitude of this day, it is rooted in this hope and in my belief that if we cannot succeed in this multi-century venture to achieve a truly just form of government, then no one can. I don’t believe this to be true because we are a “chosen” people or nation. Nor do I believe that we are in most ways special or exceptional on this earth.

We are, however, different in a couple of important respects. First, Americans are self-selected. We owe our nationality, at least in a foundational sense, not to ethnicity, birth, religious affiliation, race, class or any of the other commonalities that form the basis of membership in most other nations. Second, we self-select on the basis of a commitment to the founding principles of government that I cited from the Declaration of Independence. We are united not by blood or land or treasure, but by a common faith, not in God per se, but in freedom, justice and equality.

Again, I do not here intend to reflect the reality of experience in our country today or at any other time in our history. I am not starry-eyed about our political or economic systems as they have existed for nearly 233 years. I write instead today about the mythic forms that constitute our deepest vision of ourselves, forms that I believe we have the possibility of being born again through the presidency of Barack Obama. If we succeed in making those forms more real, then today will indeed represent an important day in the history of the world, not just our nation.

We have little time to celebrate, however, as the reality of experience of America in the world today requires aggressive action to address the many crises we face. Among the challenges President Obama must take on immediately is the remaking of U.S. foreign policy. I will look at how we can begin to repair the damage done by successive regimes in additional postings this month. While our power is undoubtedly diminished, I believe we can recover our position of leadership in the world and help bring about a new era of U.S. preeminence, if not dominance, in the global political system.

Winter Wondering

Perhaps this is only something I do in the winter and spring. The snow falling outside tells me it is once again time to start writing, so I think that's what I'll do. New posts will appear soon, and I'll hope to get some feedback from anyone who might be reading.

Until then, enjoy the snow, if you've got it.