WHAT IS FOREIGN POLICY?| 471idealist, upholding these principles should be a primary goal
of U.S. foreign policy. Constructivists off er an alternative to
both positions, arguing that state actions are shaped by past
events rather than by ideological beliefs.
These terms are used often in foreign policy debates
because they off er convenient ways to summarize the motiva-
tions behind policy decisions. That is how we use the terms in
this chapter, but in reality none of them provides a fully accu-
rate defi nition of what motivates nations or individuals. No
one is a realist or an idealist all the time. Consider President
Obama and his foreign policy actions. While he was a candi-
date for president, his campaign promise to meet with hostile
foreign leaders suggested an idealist perspective; but now
that he is president his increased use of drone aircraft against Al Qaeda in Paki-
stan and other countries, as well as his decision to assist in NATO operations in
Libya’s civil strife but to avoid getting involved with the civil war in Syria, is more
consistent with realism. For any leader, the realist and idealist labels summarize
the motivations behind individual policy decisions and may not necessarily sug-
gest what kinds of policies that leader might prefer in the future.HISTORY OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
In this section we review the evolution of American foreign policy. Our aim is to
illustrate what foreign policy encompasses, including the types of choices Ameri-
can politicians face, how these policy options have changed over time, and the lack
of agreement among American politicians about how to resolve these issues.THE FOUNDING TO WORLD WAR I
Until America’s entry into World War I in 1917, American foreign policy was pri-
marily but not completely isolationist. Isolationism made sense during this period
for several reasons: America’s distance from Europe reduced the potential for
international economic interactions, lowered the level of military threat, and gave
early America room to expand without confl icting with European nations.^6 The
Monroe Doctrine, established by President James Monroe in 1823, stated that
America would remain neutral in wars involving European nations and that the
United States expected these nations to stop trying to colonize or occupy areas
in North and South America.^7 During this time America expanded by purchasing
land from other countries (it added much of the Midwest through the Louisiana
Purchase) and by annexing land after military confl icts (it acquired a large section
of the Southwest from Mexico following the Mexican-American War).
America’s foreign policy was never completely isolationist, however, even in
the early years. The navy was deployed on many occasions to protect U.S. ships
and citizens, and America had colonies far beyond its borders. America also built
the Panama Canal, leasing land from Panama in the process, and sent troops into
confl icts in Nicaragua and other Central American countries. Moreover, Amer-
ica maintained signifi cant trading relationships with nations in Europe and
elsewhere.
Still, America’s involvement in World War I (1914–18) marked a sharp departure
in foreign policy, both in the nation’s participation in an international alliance and
FOREIGN POLICY IS FULL OF
controversial questions. For
example, should the American
military use drones (remote-
controlled, unmanned aircraft) to
carry out bomb strikes in foreign
countries? What if civilians are
killed by mistake? What if the
target country’s government
doesn’t approve of the strike?constructivism The idea that
foreign policy is shaped by how a
state’s leaders defi ne the national
interest, ideology, and other factors.Monroe Doctrine The American
policy initiated under President
James Monroe in 1823 stating that
the United States would remain
neutral in confl icts between Euro-
pean nations, and that these nations
should stop colonizing or occupying
areas of North and South America.