Domestic politics play a leading role in foreign policy. United States foreign policy is largely influenced by the domestic political climate. From the Bush Administration to the Obama Administration, the War in Iraq has seen different foreign policies mandated; while the U.S.’s policy on democracy promotion has swayed from pro-promotion, to con, and back again. Examining these two foreign policies will provide a closer look at how domestic politics interferes with foreign policy decisions. No area of U.S. foreign policy has been more controversial as the Presidents war powers. The President of the United States holds a position of power that could be argued as higher than anyone in the world. No single person has a larger capability to mobilize
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For example, U.S. funding to support America’s democracy promotion in Iraq was estimated to cost around $10 billion per month (Epstein, Serafino, & Miko, 2007), Congress had the difficult task of deciding whether or not spending that amount of money on democracy promotion rather than domestic programs was worth it to the American taxpayer. Public opinion and interest groups are another example of domestic politics influencing foreign policy. As a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” the public has the power in congressional and presidential elections. Policy makers keep in mind to stay in a favorable position of the public as to get re-elected. In addition, interest groups to include, political lobbyists, the military, and NGOs can influence head of states. Hussain (2011) gives us an example of how public opinion influences foreign policy in the form of 9/11. After innocent Americans were killed in the terrorist attacks, the U.S. public wholly supported any kind foreign policy in retaliation to terrorism. With the support of the public and Congress, President Bush declared war with Iraq with ease. Conversely, after the claim of WMD had been found to be false, public opinion on the
For example, U.S. funding to support America’s democracy promotion in Iraq was estimated to cost around $10 billion per month (Epstein, Serafino, & Miko, 2007), Congress had the difficult task of deciding whether or not spending that amount of money on democracy promotion rather than domestic programs was worth it to the American taxpayer. Public opinion and interest groups are another example of domestic politics influencing foreign policy. As a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” the public has the power in congressional and presidential elections. Policy makers keep in mind to stay in a favorable position of the public as to get re-elected. In addition, interest groups to include, political lobbyists, the military, and NGOs can influence head of states. Hussain (2011) gives us an example of how public opinion influences foreign policy in the form of 9/11. After innocent Americans were killed in the terrorist attacks, the U.S. public wholly supported any kind foreign policy in retaliation to terrorism. With the support of the public and Congress, President Bush declared war with Iraq with ease. Conversely, after the claim of WMD had been found to be false, public opinion on the