John Paul Tabakian, Ed.D. Political Science 5 Western Political Thought Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 Power Point 9
Course Lecture Topics 1. Cultural Conflict: The New Cold War? 2. Conflict, Violence, And War 3. Causes Of War 4. Kin-Country Syndrome 5. Redefining Civilization Identity 6. West Vs. The Rest 7. American Military Power 8. Making Foreign Policy 9. Public Influences Policy 10.Legislatures
Cultural Conflict: The New Cold War? Tensions between civilizations are supplanting the political and ideological rivalries persistent during the Cold War. Samuel Huntington argue, "the values that are most important in the West are least important worldwide. World politics will be directed in the future by conflicts that according to Kishore Mahbubani will be between "the West and the Rest." Samuel P. Huntington adds."..and the responses of non- Western civilizations to Western power and values.
Conflict, Violence, And War Non-Western civilizations isolate themselves from the Western-dominated global community. "Band-Wagoning" can lead non-western countries to join with the West and accept its values and institutions. Non-Western countries can attempt to "balance" the West by developing an alternative economic and military power and ally with one another to effective counter Western dominance.
Causes Of War Nationalism Ethnicity Religion Culture Natural Resources
Kin-Country Syndrome States try to rally support from states that share a similar culture. Replaces political ideology and traditional balance of power as the principal basis for cooperation and coalitions.
Redefining Civilization Identity Samuel Huntington s Three Requirements For Torn Countries To Redefine Its Civilization Identity: The Country s economic and political elites have to enthusiastically endorse the transition. Its public has to endorse whatever new definition is adopted. Dominant groups in the recipient civilization have to embrace the convert.
West Vs. The Rest Samuel P. Huntington stresses that civilizationconsciousness is increasing and that global politics will be focused on "the West and the Rest." This applies to conflicts between the Western powers, especially the United States, against "others. The first conflict(s) will be between the West and several Islamic-Confucian states. Samuel Huntington made these arguments in the article The Clash of Civilizations (1993).
American Military Power The main reasons for the US to maintain such a high military expenditure are: US commitments on a global basis. US military forces must be able to project power to regions located thousands of miles away. US forces require high technology in order to defeat its enemies with limited casualties. US maintains a much more expensive allvolunteer force.
Making Foreign Policy (1) Foreign policies are the strategies governments use to guide their actions in the international arena. Spell out the objectives state leaders have decided to pursue in a given relationship or situation. Foreign policy process: How policies are arrived at and implemented.
Making Foreign Policy (2) Comparative foreign policy. Study of foreign policy in various states in order to discover whether similar types of societies or governments consistently have similar types of foreign policies. Foreign policy outcomes result from multiple forces at various levels of analysis.
Range of views on foreign policy issues held by the citizens of a state. Has a greater influence on foreign policy in democracies than in authoritarian governments. Legitimacy Propaganda Public Influences Policy (1) Journalists as gatekeepers
In democracies, public opinion generally has less effect on foreign policy than on domestic policy. Attentive public Public Influences Policy (2) Foreign policy elite Rally round the flag syndrome Diversionary foreign policy
Legislatures (1) Conduit through which interest groups and public opinion can wield influence. Presidential systems; separate elections. Legislatures play a direct role in making foreign policy. Different rules apply, however, to the use of military force. Rally round the flag. May challenge the president if they have power of the purse.
Legislatures (2) Parliamentary systems; political parties are dominant Often parliamentary executives do not need to submit treaties or policies for formal approval by the legislature. Call elections; new executive Legislatures play a key role in designing and implementing foreign policy.