Bully,BystanderorBuddy?

:AmericasRoleontheInternationalPlayground
FormalIssuesBrief
Topic:WhatroleshouldtheUnitedStatestakeontheinternationalstage?
GroupMembers:JackIffert,MeghanYizzi,MariaLucchi,SabrinaKnott,KevinCardenas,
JohnnyBarton,MaxIsabelle,LauraKerns,AzNalbandian

Overview:
Inlieuofanincreasinglyglobalizinginternationalcommunity,thequestionofhowtheUnitedStates
shouldinteractininternationalaffairsarises.ShouldtheUnitedStatestakeaveryaggressive,offensive,
Bullylikeapproachalaissezfaire,isolationist,Bystanderapproachoracooperative,assistive,and
mediationmindedBuddy.TheUnitedStateshasadoptedavarietyoftheseapproachesthroughoutits
history,butcurrentlyhasnodefinedapproachforitsforeigninvolvement.Furthermore,withthe
upcomingpresidentialelection,theUnitedStatesforeignpolicyhasbecomeahottopic,especiallydueto
theSyrianrefugeecrisis,thethreatofISISandthedebateonimmigration.Inupcomingyears,whatrole
shouldtheUShaveininternationalaffairs?

Option1Bully
Weasacountryarenotaggressiveenoughinforeignpolicyandinternationalaffairs.Although
weareinvolvedinternationallywithseveralcountries,ourdegreeofinterferenceisnotasstrong
asitneedstobetodemonstrateourpoweranddominanceinternationallyasacountry.Ifwe
wanttobetterpositionourselvesinthefuture,wemustactwithmorefirmnessandinvolve
ourselvestoanevengreaterextentinternationally.Withtheelectionahead,ournewpresident
mustshowoffAmericasstrengthandpowertomakehisorhertermmoreeffectiveand
satisfactory.
Actions:
Takeanactive,andoffensive,firstonthesceneroleinsolvinginternationalissues.
Placeimportanceontheglobalsafetyofallhumanbeingsinadditiontoourownself
interestinthematter
Funnelmoneyandresourcesintobuildingastrongmilitary
Drawbacks:
Entanglinginallforeignaffairsmayexhaustourresources
Noteveryonemaywillinglyacceptourhelp
Puttingresourcesintomilitaryexpendituresmaylimittheamountwehavetospendon
domesticaffairs

Option2Buddy

TheUnitedStatesistooaggressiveinitsapproachtointernationalaffairs.Thenationsneedsto
remaininvolvedwithforeignaffairs,butneedstotakeontheroleofafriendlymediatorbetween
opposingparties,promotingdiplomacyandpeaceoverwar.
Actions:
Decreaseforeignmilitaryinvolvementwillallowustospendmoreondomesticsectors
(education,healthcare,infrastructure,welfare,etc.)
Increasehumanitarianaideffortsinvestinthefutureofdevelopingcountries
Drawbacks:
Beingpurelydiplomaticintensesituationsmaynotbeenoughtostopconflict
Nationsmaytakeadvantageofourfriendlynatureandnotuseouraidtotheimprovethe
commongoodoftheirpeople

Option3Bystander
Americaistooinvolvedininternationalmattersandforthecountryssafety,mustremove
herselffromasmanyaspossible.Thegoalisselfpreservation,weneedmorefocusonthe
homefronttotakecareofourowninhouseproblems.Withthepresidentialelectiononits
way,thereisgreatpotentialforchangewithinourcountry,butthatpotentialwilllessenifweare
focusedmoresoonwhatisgoingoninothercountries.Perhapsitisbesttostayoutof
internationalmattersuntilthepoliticalandeconomicinstabilityaswellasterrorismdiesout.
Actions:
RemainneutralininternationaldisputesthatdonotdirectlyinvolvedtheUnitedStates
Providebasichumanitarianandeconomicaidasneeded
DevotemoretimeandmoneytocausesthatdirectlybenefittheUnitedStates
Maintainnonspecificinternationalpolicy,onlyactingwhenrequired
Drawbacks:
Stillcreatesobligationstoothercounties
Policiesareopento,potentiallyincorrect,interpretation
Somewhatcostly
Historically,Rwanda,Crimea,andtheWorldWarswereinstancesinwhichtheUnited
Statesattemptedtoremainneutral,buttheoutcomeswerenotmostfavorable.

FurtherReading:
"2016PresidentialCandidatesonForeignAffairsBallotpedia."2016PresidentialCandidates
onForeignAffairsBallotpedia.N.p.,Feb.2016.Web.28Feb.2016.

Bandow,Doug."HowtoDealwithNorthKorea."TheNationalInterest.N.p.,n.d.Web.28Feb.
2016.
"DebatingtheU.S.Military'sRoleinInternationalPeacekeeping."UnitedStatesInstituteof
Peace.UnitedSttateInstituteofPeace,27Apr.2012.Web.28Feb.2016.
Eaglen,Mackenzie."TheUnitedStatesMustHaveaViableMissileDefenseSystem."Opposing
ViewpointsInContext.NuclearArmament,2011.Web.02Feb.2016.
Keller,Bill."OurNewIsolationism."TheNewYorkTimes.TheNewYorkTimes,08Sept.
2013.Web.28Feb.2016.