American Foreign Policy: A Time for a Shift in Priorities and Instruments

Abstract

In the post 9/11 world of American Foreign Policy, where interdependence and globalization are variables that influence every aspect of world affairs, what should the priorities of the United States be and what instruments of foreign policy are the most effective? This question is one that the Untied States can no longer avoid. My hypothesis is that the United States needs to reevaluate its priorities and more importantly reeva luate its instruments of tatecraft if it desires to retain what power it has left. I support this hypothesis by using various articles from the Journal of Foreign Affairs, Andrew Bacevich’s American Empire and Chalmers Johnson’s Blowback. My paper focuses on comparing old priorities with new priorities, and it explains how the old instruments of foreign policy are no longer suitable for what the new priorities of a successful foreign policy seek to establish. I suggest what a new foreign policy should consist of and how to establish one. Politics have always been a tricky endeavor to understand and master, and there are numerous challenges to establishing a cohesive foreign policy. I outline what the greatest challenge to establishing a foreign policy is and how to overcome it. My points and supporting evidence are not original; however, the manner in which they are expressed will bring new light to the subject, and for the first time, several important points will be evaluated and compiled together. The paper has been laid out as a comparison between the Cold War Era policies and the post 9/11 policies. The reader will be able to distinguish the differences in the political climate and realize that the current policies are unsuitable.