United States Foreign Policy Analysis

From pages 350 to 381 in The Politics of Power the topic of foreign policy is discussed. Foreign policy, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the policy of a sovereign state in its interaction with other sovereign states (“Foreign policy Definition”).” When it comes to making the United States’ foreign policy, the executive branch has the most control. The Politics of Power agrees with this point and backs it up by explaining exactly how the United States’ foreign policy is made on pages 352 and 353. Basically, the president is the heart of the foreign policy process, but occasionally he requires the aid of his advisors, such as the National Security Council, national security adviser, and the National Intelligence Council (Katznelson, Kesselman,
Naturally, there are those who argue against the presence of globalization in the United States. To those people, The Politics of Power illustrated several dramatic points by proving that direct foreign investment in capitalist countries increased at triple the rate of international trade and that the United States’ exports only make up ten percent of its GDP (Katznelson, Kesselman, and Draper 361). The Congressional Research Service composed by Jackson proved that foreign investment in the United States is still increasing. Despite the decreasing rates during 2000, it has picked up and continuously increased from 2008 proving that there is still foreign investment in the United States (Jackson). Although the real GDP, the measure of outputs, rose 2.5 percent during 2010, the United States’ exports still makes well below fifty percent of its GDP (Mataloni and Hodge). This helps to prove that globalization is occurring in the United States because it is receiving a minimal amount of its GDP through exports, therefore it must be making up for it by importing. Both of these credible
The Politics of Power best explains this occurrence by stating how humanitarian concerns and the notion that the United States is a force of good in the globe have inspired its presence (367). This concept is still valid to this day when taking the 2010 earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti into consideration. The United States provided a vast amount aid towards Haiti in its time of need. In order to help get it back on its feet, the United States donated a wide range of items such as food, water, and other relief supplies (“Foreign Policy”). In fact, most of websites that deal with the United States’ citizens donating is still in effect to this day, despite the earthquake occurring in January (“Rebuilding Strength”). As a result of this aid, the United States receives the benefit of receiving good global publicity about the charitableness of the United States. Not only does this method help to improve foreign ties with the country the United States is aiding, but also with other countries that might be allies of the country receiving the aid. As thoroughly explained in this essay, the United States’ military is not only focused on the control and power it brings upon other countries, but their development and natural well being as