The US is the most powerful state in the world. Not surprisingly, US foreign policy is influential throughout the world. Political parties, interest groups, the media, and the American public are the four most influential extra-governmental actors in US foreign policy making. In this essay, I will discuss whether political parties, the media, interest groups, or the American public has the greatest impact on US foreign policy. First, I will discuss political parties impact on US foreign policy. Second, I will discuss interest groups influence on US foreign policy. Third, I will discuss the media’s influence on US foreign policy. Fourth, I will discuss the American public’s influence on US foreign policy. Fifth, I will discuss which extra-governmental
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Fordham (1998) argues that there is a relationship between party identification and presidential use of force. For example, the conflicting constituencies of US political parties cause presidents to use diversionary force overseas. Perceptions of political parties can also impact US foreign policy. For example, during the cold war democratic presidents had to worry about being perceived as soft on communism, so they were more likely to use force. Therefore, political parties can directly impact the decision making of the most influential government actor in US foreign policy, the president, across the most influential dimension of US foreign policy, the military. Interest groups impact US foreign policy. For example, Vice President Dick Cheney’s connection with the company Halliburton is thought to have had an influence on the decision to go to war with Iraq in 2003. Newhouse (2015) argues that lobbyists have the ability to influence the opinions and decisions of US members of Congress. For example, in 2008 the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) endorsed 41 congressional candidates and spent $578,000 among them. Therefore, interest groups can directly impact the decision making of the second most influential government actor in US foreign policy,
Fordham (1998) argues that there is a relationship between party identification and presidential use of force. For example, the conflicting constituencies of US political parties cause presidents to use diversionary force overseas. Perceptions of political parties can also impact US foreign policy. For example, during the cold war democratic presidents had to worry about being perceived as soft on communism, so they were more likely to use force. Therefore, political parties can directly impact the decision making of the most influential government actor in US foreign policy, the president, across the most influential dimension of US foreign policy, the military. Interest groups impact US foreign policy. For example, Vice President Dick Cheney’s connection with the company Halliburton is thought to have had an influence on the decision to go to war with Iraq in 2003. Newhouse (2015) argues that lobbyists have the ability to influence the opinions and decisions of US members of Congress. For example, in 2008 the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) endorsed 41 congressional candidates and spent $578,000 among them. Therefore, interest groups can directly impact the decision making of the second most influential government actor in US foreign policy,