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34 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
al-Qaeda
Worldwide terrorist organization led by Osama bin Laden, responsible for numerous terrorist attacks against US interest, including 9/11 attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Bush Doctrine
Policy advocated by President George W. Bush of using preemptive military action against a perceived threat to US interests.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Executive agency responsible for collection and analysis of information and intelligence about foreign countries and events.
Cuban Missile Crisis
The 1962 confrontation that nearly escalated into war between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet deployment of medium-range ballistic missiles in Cuba.
Department of Defense
Chief executive branch department responsible for formulation and implementation of US military policy.
Department of Homeland Security
Cabinet department created after the 9/11 attacks to coordinate domestic US security efforts against terrorism.
Department of State
Chief executive branch department responsible for formulation and implementation of US foreign policy.
détente
The relaxation of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union that occurred during the 1970s.
engagement
Policy implemented during the Clinton administration that the United States would remain actively involved in foreign affairs.
enlargement
Policy implemented during the Clinton administration that the United States would actively promote the expansion of democracy and free markets throughout the world.
human rights
The belief that human beings have inalienable rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
isolationism
A national policy of avoiding participation in foreign affairs.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Advisory body to the president that includes the army chief of staff, the air force chief of staff, the chief of naval operations, and the marine commandant.
military-industrial complex
The grouping of the US armed forces and defense industries.
moralism
The policy of emphasizing morality in foreign affairs.
National Security Agency (NSA)
Intelligence agency primarily responsible for gathering intelligence from electronic and nonelectronic sources for breaking foreign information transmissions codes.
National Security Council (NSC)
Executive agency responsible for advising the president about foreign and defense policy and events.
nongovernmental organization (NGO)
An organization that is tied to a government.
North American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Agreement that promotes free movement of goods and services among Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Powell Doctrine
The Powell Doctrine advocates an all-or-nothing approach to military intervention. Among other criteria, it emphasizes the use of overwhelming force to ensure a quick and decisive victory, and the adoption of an exit strategy prior to any intervention.
pragmatism
The policy of taking advantage of situation for national gain.
Reagan Doctrine
Policy that the United States would provide military assistance to anti-communist groups fighting against pro-soviet governments.
Taliban
Fundamentalist Islamic government of Afghanistan that provided terrorist training bases for al-Qaeda.
unilateralism
A national policy of acting without consulting the others.
United Nations (UN)
An international governmental organization created shortly before the end of World war II to guarantee the security of nations and to promote global economic, physical, and social well-being.
Vietnam War
Between 1965 and 1973, the United States deployed up to 500,000 troops to Vietnam to try to prevent North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam, the effort failed and was divisive within the United States.
war on terrorism
Initiate by George W. Bush after the September 11, 2001 attacks to weed out terrorist operatives throughout the world, using diplomacy, military means, improved homeland security, stricter banking laws , and other means.
War Powers Act
Passed by Congress in 1973, the president is limite4d in the deployment of troops overseas to sixty-day period in peacetime (which can be extended for an extra thirty-days to permit withdrawal) unless Congress explicitly gives the approval for a longer period.
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
Biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, which present a sizeable threat to US security.
World Trade organization (WTO)
International governmental organization created in 1995 that manages multilateral negotiations to reduce barriers to trade and settle trade disputes.
What should I have learned about?
Foreign and defense policy are important functions of the US government. This chapter stressed the evolution of foreign and defense policy over time, the role of public and private agencies, and the challenges that American policy makers face in the twenty-first century.
What are the roots of the US foreign and defense policy?
After World Ward II, foreign and defense policy became major concerns, especially issues such as US Soviet relations, nuclear weapons, and the Vietnam War. Despite debate, an underlying consensus existed that American policy should focus on containing the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union collapsed, no immediate consensus emerged on the direction of US foreign policy. The terrorism attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, caused the United States to focus much of its energy on a war against terrorism.
What is the process of foreign and defense policy decision making?
Balances found in other parts of the US political system are general absent in foreign and defense policy. The executive branch of government dominates foreign and defense policy, with the Departments of State and Defense being particularly important. Within the executive branch, the president is preeminent. Until the War Powers Act, few constraints were placed on presidential prerogative s in foreign and defense policy. Presidential power experienced post 9/11 resurgence as concerns about national security often eclipsed executive accountability and the protection of civil liberties. Institutions outside the executive also play a role in the US foreign and defense policy. These include Congress, the military industrial complex, the news media, and the public.
What challenges confront the United States in the twenty-first century?
The United States faces major challenges in foreign and defense policy during the twenty-first century, especially homeland defense and the global war on terrorism. Other challenges include promoting democratic values globally and addressing transnational threats to peace.