Idealism vs Realpolitik From the very beginning, the United States has been a nation of grand ideals. The foreign policy and domestic politics of the United States have been shaped by ideals like equality, manifest destiny, and democratic self-determination. These grand ideals serve as the driving force behind hallmark moments in American history such as the Declaration of independence, Louisiana Purchase, Monroe Doctrine, the League of Nations, and the United Nations. As a nation built upon grand ideals, America has hosted many political idealists that have tried to make the world a better place through the spread of democratic ideals and an international system. These idealists are often criticized by realists for ignoring concerns of national
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One of the primary reason for the failure of the League of Nations was the lack of hard power which failed to deter the belligerent axis powers from using military force. In creating the League of Nation’s successor, the United Nation, British and American leaders understood that the threat of force, the cooperation of the Soviet Union, and the membership of the United States are all factors that are needed in order for the new organization to work. This time, the American president Franklin Roosevelt knew that “the UN would be doomed to the same fate as the League of Nations unless he could sell the idea to the Congress and the American public” (Kaufman 79). In order to sell the UN to the Congress and the American public, Roosevelt stressed the political benefit of joining the organization and the subsequent cost of not doing so. This time around, the international organization that is the UN was able to persevere because its founders blended the concerns of the realist with the idealism of the organization. The founding of the UN also marked a new era in American politics in which the nation has assumed the status as an international …show more content…
During the Cold War period, political realism became the preeminent ideology in the foreign policy of the United States due to the fear of the opposition. As competing super powers, US foreign policy in the cold war era is often directed towards combating the influence of the Soviet Union and communism. The fierce competition between the US and the USSR is responsible for the division of Western and Eastern Europe as well as the world into competing spheres of influences as the superpowers attempt to achieve the balance of power. In this period the US military buildup, proxy wars, and overthrowing of foreign governments demonstrate the forces of realpolitik at work. The CIA backed coup in 1953 against the democratically elected government of Iran is a prime example of national interests trumping the values of American idealism in this period. This form of realpolitik has aroused the criticism on from idealist the grounds that it undermines American values and the international credibility of the nation. The foreign policy of realism in this period have also led to instability and strained relationship with the US in many parts of the world. Despite the fall of communism, American relationship with Cuba is still strained due to the intrigues of the CIA and the Cuban Missile Crisis during the 60s. America’s support and arming
One of the primary reason for the failure of the League of Nations was the lack of hard power which failed to deter the belligerent axis powers from using military force. In creating the League of Nation’s successor, the United Nation, British and American leaders understood that the threat of force, the cooperation of the Soviet Union, and the membership of the United States are all factors that are needed in order for the new organization to work. This time, the American president Franklin Roosevelt knew that “the UN would be doomed to the same fate as the League of Nations unless he could sell the idea to the Congress and the American public” (Kaufman 79). In order to sell the UN to the Congress and the American public, Roosevelt stressed the political benefit of joining the organization and the subsequent cost of not doing so. This time around, the international organization that is the UN was able to persevere because its founders blended the concerns of the realist with the idealism of the organization. The founding of the UN also marked a new era in American politics in which the nation has assumed the status as an international …show more content…
During the Cold War period, political realism became the preeminent ideology in the foreign policy of the United States due to the fear of the opposition. As competing super powers, US foreign policy in the cold war era is often directed towards combating the influence of the Soviet Union and communism. The fierce competition between the US and the USSR is responsible for the division of Western and Eastern Europe as well as the world into competing spheres of influences as the superpowers attempt to achieve the balance of power. In this period the US military buildup, proxy wars, and overthrowing of foreign governments demonstrate the forces of realpolitik at work. The CIA backed coup in 1953 against the democratically elected government of Iran is a prime example of national interests trumping the values of American idealism in this period. This form of realpolitik has aroused the criticism on from idealist the grounds that it undermines American values and the international credibility of the nation. The foreign policy of realism in this period have also led to instability and strained relationship with the US in many parts of the world. Despite the fall of communism, American relationship with Cuba is still strained due to the intrigues of the CIA and the Cuban Missile Crisis during the 60s. America’s support and arming