John Keynes once wrote that practical men that believe they are quiet exempt from intellectual influences tend to be slaves of some defunct economists (Betts). In the perspective, pundits and politicians tend to view the world through assumptions and instincts deep rooted in some philosopher’s big idea. However, some of those ideologies are old and most often than not take granted throughout society. This essay is going to explain the purpose of theory and how it can clarify, confuse and omit ideas. It will also examine the drawbacks of a commitment to a single ideology, and the reasons why decision-makers need to blend and bend using the case of American foreign policy on ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).
The purpose of political theory …show more content…
Primarily, The American foreign policy on ISIS has proven to be ineffective for relying only on one perspective to deal with the ISIS issue. The U.S. government formulated a strategy in Syria and Iraq that includes limiting air strikes and providing America’s support to local proxies. Some of the local partners the U.S. government is working with include the Sunni tribes, the Iraqi security forces, the Free Syrian Army, and the Peshmerga hoping that they will weaken and ultimately destroy ISIS (Boot). However, this perspective has not been able to deal with the ISIS issue in Iraq and Syria because the U.S. forces are operating under stringent self-imposing limitations hoping that the local partners will do more. It is quite clear that a new perspective is needed if the U.S. government is to win the war against ISIS (Feaver). In the meantime, the government will continue experiencing the damaging effects of relying on a single …show more content…
Liberalism examines the rising number of democracies and the turbulence of democratic transitions. Realism highlights the shifting distribution of power among states while idealism or constructivism illuminates the changing norms of sovereignty, international justice, human rights, and increased potency of religious ideas in politics (Snyder 54). Although the three theories reveal the difference in their views, they are all important, and policy makers need them. In fact, every theory provides a filter that can be used to look at a complicated picture. In this regard, the theories help in explaining the assumptions behind political rhetoric about foreign policy. They also act as a powerful check on each other. Therefore, when political theories are deployed effectively, they reveal the weakness of arguments that possibly lead to misguided policies (Snyder
The purpose of political theory …show more content…
Primarily, The American foreign policy on ISIS has proven to be ineffective for relying only on one perspective to deal with the ISIS issue. The U.S. government formulated a strategy in Syria and Iraq that includes limiting air strikes and providing America’s support to local proxies. Some of the local partners the U.S. government is working with include the Sunni tribes, the Iraqi security forces, the Free Syrian Army, and the Peshmerga hoping that they will weaken and ultimately destroy ISIS (Boot). However, this perspective has not been able to deal with the ISIS issue in Iraq and Syria because the U.S. forces are operating under stringent self-imposing limitations hoping that the local partners will do more. It is quite clear that a new perspective is needed if the U.S. government is to win the war against ISIS (Feaver). In the meantime, the government will continue experiencing the damaging effects of relying on a single …show more content…
Liberalism examines the rising number of democracies and the turbulence of democratic transitions. Realism highlights the shifting distribution of power among states while idealism or constructivism illuminates the changing norms of sovereignty, international justice, human rights, and increased potency of religious ideas in politics (Snyder 54). Although the three theories reveal the difference in their views, they are all important, and policy makers need them. In fact, every theory provides a filter that can be used to look at a complicated picture. In this regard, the theories help in explaining the assumptions behind political rhetoric about foreign policy. They also act as a powerful check on each other. Therefore, when political theories are deployed effectively, they reveal the weakness of arguments that possibly lead to misguided policies (Snyder