The world is increasingly connected. A regional economic meltdown, a local deadly flu outbreak, or a tribal squabble are now global problems. And as the world’s sole empire, only the U.S. has the power to inspire the world to address these problems together. Successfully overcoming these global crises requires U.S. leadership.
Traditionally, foreign policy is not a major factor in American elections. But since 9-11, it has been a primary concern on American’s minds. Immediately after 9-11, Americans refused to hear that our actions in the world had consequences. This was seen as ‘blaming America’. But in the years since then, people have begun to realize the truth. Aided by Bush’s belligerent, go-it-alone policies and failed war in Iraq, they now understand that how we act in the world has repercussions. The public sees that problems in far-flung places of the globe can negatively affect America and our allies directly. In other words, what happens in the world does matter, and we should act responsibly.
Given our empire status, America’s relations with the rest of the world take on added importance. How we react to international problems can have dramatic positive or negative repercussions. Thus, we must act with careful deliberation in foreign affairs, or else we will cause more harm than good.
Bush is a case in point. His cowboy, us vs. them approach to international relations has shattered our friendships and disintegrated our ability to rally countries around our agendas. It will take years to repair the damage he has done to America’s reputation and rebuild once solid alliances. While the Middle East was never all that stable, the Republican hair-brained invasion of Iraq has thrown the region into turmoil and imperiled our ability to act with decisiveness elsewhere. It has also created generations of new terrorists and extremists that hate the U.S.
So progressives want to basically do the opposite of Bush. We believe that the U.S. should act responsibly in the world, use cooperation rather than confrontation to achieve desired results, and look at both short term and long term effects when deciding on the appropriate course of action. Ultimately, progressives want America’s foreign policy to do the most good for the most people.
By promoting justice, democracy, and human rights, we increase the stability of other nations and decrease conflict. Improving education, developing local economies, and fighting disease gives people the opportunity to improve their lives and fulfill their dreams. A more stable, prosperous world in turn improves America’s security and prosperity.
Progressives believe that the U.S. can be a force for good in the world; that we can stop the spread of nuclear weapons, defeat terrorism, fight global warming, and eradicate poverty. Americans know that the values that make America great will make any other country great, and that everyone can succeed if given the opportunity.
Messaging
A good, complete message explaining progressive foreign policy is this:
Ultimately, progressives know America must have a principled, ethical foreign policy based on cooperation, effectiveness, and reason that promotes health, education, democracy, justice, and opportunity.
If you want an overarching theme for a progressive approach to foreign policy, focus on the following tenets.
1) Cooperation achieves our goals better than confrontation
2) Improving living standards around the world decreases conflict
3) Lead by example and understanding, not force and close mindedness
For specific messages, see the sub-issues below.
Specific Foreign Policy Issues (Iraq and terrorism get separate treatment)
Nuclear Proliferation
Iran
North Korea
Non-proliferation
Diplomacy (moral engagement)
Chemical and biological weapons
Human rights & torture
Darfur
Peacekeeping
Global living standards (poverty, health, democracy)
Military force