America's Role in Promoting Global Peace and Development

The sources provide a historical overview of America's approach to foreign policy, highlighting two contrasting approaches: one advocating for global peace and cooperation, the other promoting American dominance.

One perspective, articulated by figures like John Quincy Adams, George Washington, Henry Wallace, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, emphasizes peace, cooperation, and mutual respect in international relations. This view advocates for:

• Respecting the independence and sovereignty of all nations: This principle is evident in John Quincy Adams's assertion that America "has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own". George Washington similarly urged the nation to "observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all".
• Avoiding foreign entanglements and alliances: Both Washington and Adams cautioned against becoming embroiled in European conflicts and alliances. Washington warned against "passionate attachments" to other nations, arguing that such attachments could lead to unnecessary wars and betrayals of national interest. Adams echoed this sentiment, stating that America should avoid becoming "entangled" in the "toils of European ambition".
• Promoting freedom and democracy through example and support, not force: Adams maintained that America's "glory is not dominion, but liberty", and that the nation should promote freedom by example and support rather than by imposing its will on others. This principle found expression in Henry Wallace's articulation of the "Century of the Common Man", which envisioned a world where all people have the opportunity to attain freedom and prosperity through education, economic development, and self-governance.
• Utilizing American resources to promote global development and well-being: This ideal found expression in Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor Policy", which sought to foster cooperation and development in the Americas. This policy translated into concrete actions, such as supporting Mexico's right to control its own oil resources and extending credit for infrastructure projects. Wallace envisioned a similar approach on a global scale, arguing that "modern science, when devoted whole-heartedly to the general welfare, has in it potentialities of which we do not yet dream".

Contrasting this vision is a more interventionist and self-interested approach, epitomized by figures like Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Henry Kissinger. This approach, often associated with the "Deep State", is characterized by:

• A belief in American exceptionalism and its role in shaping the world order: This viewpoint is evident in Kissinger's address at Chatham House, where he contrasted the American and British approaches to foreign policy. He argued that while Britain understood the importance of realpolitik and maintaining a balance of power, America tended toward "moral crusading" and seeking to remake the world in its image. This difference, according to Kissinger, led to America prioritizing its own ideological preferences over the need to contain Soviet influence in the postwar era.

A willingness to use force and covert operations to advance American interests: This tendency is visible in the historical examples of American interventions in Latin America, often justified as upholding the Monroe Doctrine but in reality serving to protect American economic and strategic interests. Kissinger's own career, marked by his involvement in the Vietnam War and support for various coups and covert operations, exemplifies this approach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.