1. Chapter Nineteen
National Security and Foreign Policy
American Government and Politics: Deliberation,
Democracy, and Citizenship

2. Chapter Nineteen: Learning Objectives
• Sketch the history of foreign policy
and its relationship to citizenship
• Describe the conflicting traditions of
American foreign policy

3. Chapter Nineteen: Learning Objectives
• Lay out the organizations that develop
and execute foreign policy
• Analyze the political struggle for
control of foreign policy
• Discuss how policymakers and
citizens deliberate on foreign policy

4. Introduction
Foreign policy is
• Defense against immediate threats
• Advancing democracy, economic freedom,
and human rights
Foreign policy requires deliberation and
long-term planning.

5. A Brief History of U.S. Foreign and
Defense Policies
Founding to the twentieth century
• Isolationism
• Monroe Doctrine
• Post Civil War America expanded activities in
Latin America and Asia

6. A Brief History of U.S. Foreign and
Defense Policies
World Wars and the Cold War
• World Wars I and II
• Policy of containment and the Cold War
• National Security Act of 1947

7. A Brief History of U.S. Foreign and
Defense Policies
Iraq and terror
• Military action against Iraq in 1990s and 2000s
• September 11, 2001 terror attacks
• Afghanistan and al Qaeda

8. Conflicting Traditions in National Security
What competing ideas and sentiments
influence American foreign policy?
What is the role of citizen deliberation in
American foreign policy?

9. Conflicting Traditions in National Security:
Moralism versus Pragmatism
Moralism
American exceptionalism encompasses
two ideas of moralism
• Desire to defend nation’s way of life
• Desire to remake the world

10. Conflicting Traditions in National Security:
Moralism versus Pragmatism
Pragmatism
• Practical focus on costs and benefits of action
• Throughout history, some presidents have
avoided fighting “righteous fights” that the
nation was unprepared to fight

11. International Perspectives
Views of U.S. influence
According to public opinion research,
many foreign nations believe the
United States has a negative influence
on global affairs and that American
foreign policy does not consider the
interests of other nations.

12. Conflicting Traditions in National Security:
Openness versus Secrecy
Openness in foreign policy allows more
people to participate in deliberations.
Secrecy is also necessary in some
circumstances, especially when
engaging in covert operations.

13. Pledges and Promises
Secrecy
Oaths are one
way to protect
secrets related
to national
security and
foreign policy.

14. Conflicting Traditions in National Security:
Unilateralism versus Multilateralism
Unilateralism was prevalent through the
early twentieth century.
Multilateralism became prevalent
because of World War II and its
aftermath.

15. Organization and Coordination in the
Executive Branch
Who makes foreign policy, and how do
they organize their deliberations?
Do you believe that there is one actor
that may be more important than other
actors in foreign policy?

16. Organization and Coordination in the
Executive Branch: The President
Role of the president
• Key figure in foreign policy
• War Powers Resolution to limit war making
• Uses treaty power and appointment power to
influence foreign and defense policy

17. Organization and Coordination in the
Executive Branch: National Security Council
The National Security Council
• Created in 1947
• NSC meetings allow deliberation among several
political actors
• National Security Adviser runs the NSC

18. Organization and Coordination in the
Executive Branch: Departments, Agencies
Civilian departments and agencies
• State Department involved in foreign policy
• Commerce, Treasury, and Agriculture
departments also involved in international
economic policy

19. Organization and Coordination in the
Executive Branch: The Military
The military
• Department of Defense oversees military
• Since 1972, military has been all volunteer forces
• National Guard and Reservists may also be
called to national duty

20. Organization and Coordination in the
Executive Branch: Intelligence
The intelligence community
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• National Security Agency (NSA)
• National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
• Intelligence important for deliberation

21. Congress, Courts, Interest Groups,
and Public Opinion
How should
Congress, the
courts, interest
groups, and public
opinion influence
decisions on Kenneth Lambert, File/AP Photo
foreign policy and
national security?

22. Congress, Courts, Interest Groups,
and Public Opinion: Congress
Congressional influence
• Budgetary power
• Appointment power
• Treaty power
Are there issues with congressional deliberation?

23. Congress, Courts, Interest Groups,
and Public Opinion: Courts
Influence of the courts
• Courts sometime hesitant about foreign policy
• 1952 Youngstown case
• 1971 “Pentagon Papers” case
• Two special courts deal with intelligence issues

24. Congress, Courts, Interest Groups,
and Public Opinion: Interest Groups
Interest group influence
• Business groups
• Ethnic groups
• Humanitarian groups Mandel Ngan AFP/Getty Images

25. Congress, Courts, Interest Groups,
and Public Opinion: Public Opinion
Influence of public opinion and the media
• Secrecy hinders public deliberation
• Foreign policy opinions reflect partisan
polarization
• Media used to reach large audience

26. Congress, Courts, Interest Groups,
and Public Opinion: Public Opinion

27. Foreign Policy, National Security, and
Deliberative Democracy
Why do Americans lack foreign policy
knowledge?
• The way world history is taught in schools
• Popular culture lacks foreign representation
• Americans are lacking in language skills

28. Myths and Misinformation
The public and foreign policy
Many Americans do
not understand world
politics which may
affect foreign policy
preferences.
STAFF SGT ANTONIETA
RICO/ASSOCIATED PRESS

29. Deliberation, Citizenship, and You
Study abroad
Students are encouraged to participate
in study abroad programs to increase
their knowledge about international
issues and improve deliberation.

30. Summary
• United States grown to be great power
• Conflicting ideas influence decisions
• Presidents lead foreign policy
• Other political actors attempt to
influence foreign policy