THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE GB’s grave economic crisis in 1946-47 rendered that country incapable of furnishing the financial assistance and military aid that was generally requested by the Greek government in order to stabilize the deteriorating economic situation and suppress the communist led insurgency in the north. Suddenly on Feb. 12, 1947 the British foreign office notified the US department of state that the dire economic conditions at home would oblige GB to terminate all financial assistance to Greece and Turkey. The Truman administration had reached a consensus in favor of a positive response to the British request for assistance. However, US assistance should be represented as an essential component of a new foreign policy initiative that was necessary to protect the vital interests of the US itself. Truman obliged by delivering a historic speech before a special joint session of congress on March 12, 1947. The meaning of Truman’s words was that the US must be prepared to “support the free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”. This was the essence of what came to be called “the Truman Doctrine”, as the unconditional pledge of US assistance to countries anywhere in the world that was threatened either by external aggression from the USSR or an indigenous Communist insurgency backed by Moscow.
Foreign Policy TOOLS
Foreign Policy TOOLS Instruments employed to achieve F.P. Goals.
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Diplomacy and Recognition Trade Policies, Foreign Aid, Economic Sanctions Propaganda and Subversion Use of Force
Foreign Policy TOOLS
Internationa l Recognition Recognition of Diplomatic Missions
Diplomacy and Recognition
Ex.: Non-recognition of Communist China, Immediate US-USSR recognition of the state of Israel... Ex.: Sever of Diplomatic Relations: US and Iran, Arab States with Egypt after 1979... Ex.: Triple Diplomacy, Sadat’s Diplomacy ....
Foreign Policy TOOLS
Trade Policies, Foreign Aid, Economic Sanctions.. Ex.: 1. US Economic and Military Aid to Egypt, 2. The Marshall Plan Ex.: US Economic Sanctions on the USSR in 1979
Foreign Policy TOOLS
Propaganda and Subversion
- Are indirect tools intended to change political conditions in the target nations in such a way that the leaders of those nations would be forced to adopt the desired policies. • Propaganda: Propaganda the use of mass communications to influence public opinion in the target nation so that its people would insist that their officials act as the propagandizing nation wishes. • Subversion: is covert action used to overthrow an established government.
Foreign Policy TOOLS
Use of Force
Often the use of force is selected as a last resort. In some other cases it is urgent to apply the use of force. Ex. The Gulf War 1991 to liberate Kuwait.
RATIONAL Foreign Policy Decision Making
RATIONAL Foreign Policy Decision Making
States as Unitary Actor. What is a “rational choice”? Decision making procedures guided by careful definition of situation, weighing of goals, consideration of all alternatives, and selection of the options (TOOLS) most likely to achieve the highest goals.
RATIONAL Foreign Policy Decision Making
Rationality involves intellectual steps: • • • •
Problem Recognition and Definition Goal Selection Identification of Alternatives Choices
Impediments & Constraints On Rational Foreign Policy Making Impediments: • Human (Prospect Theory) • Organization (agreeing on goals, tools, choice..) • Information Sufficiency & Accuracy • Time Limitations - Separation between domestic & foreign policies
Impediments & Constraints On Foreign Policy Making Constraints: • F.P. choice occurs in an environment of uncertainty and competing interests. • The importance of actors (weak, strong, important, influential ...) intervenes.