Cold War Nafta Negative Effects

Webster Dictionary defines foreign policy as “the policy of a sovereign state in its interaction with other sovereign states”. Much of the U.S. Foreign Policy following World War II was based on a long ideological power struggle between the Soviet Union. This heated period between the two superpowers was given the name Cold War because it never resulted in military engagements between the two countries and was more of a competition over military superiority and political influence. The U.S. embarked on a policy of containment to stop the spread of communism, and fought numerous proxy wars to prevent new communist governments from forming. The Cold War simplified foreign decisions by creating understandable scenarios of “good vs. evil”. However after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 1991, U.S. policymakers were presented with new challenges on how to handle global affairs.
U.S. foreign policy experienced a tremendous shift
NAFTA helped create the largest free trade zone in the world and improved trade between Mexico, Canada and the United States, the nations involved in the treaty. The effect of NAFTA is evident as in the span of ten years the trade between the United States and Mexico tripled (Griswold). NAFTA, for the United States, was more about foreign policy than domestic economy. The passing of NAFTA helped the United States and Mexico form stronger ties. Evidenced by the United States immediate response to alleviate Mexico during its financial crisis in 1994. NAFTA encouraged more political competition in Mexico and opened the way for more free market reforms. The U.S. also benefited from the treaty by turning away its neighbor from a centralized government and towards a decentralized, democratic capitalist