Foreign+Policies

__ [[image:flag.gif width="45" height="49"]] 1980's Foreign Policy __
The Reagan formula for foreign policy was representative of his states craft generally: take a simple position founded on principle, adhere to it stubbornly, and let others such as colleagues, foreign diplomats and members of congress make the concessions and fill in the detail. The Reagan presidencies were anything but isolationist. Policy was formulated to bring about a resurgence of U.S strength, pride and global standing. Reagan was an ideologue and a strident advocate of change. Vice President Bush, however, was troubled by the speed of change on foreign issues and was convinced that the interests of the United States would be best served by cautious conservative policies built on excellent international diplomacy. Thus, the Bush administration was composed of moderates and pragmatists. Both the Reagan and Bush administrations can be described as clearly focused and interventionist. In contrast however, the Clinton administration takes a different approach, one that whilst interventionist, is reactionary, sporadic and a departure from his initial inclinations. This has tapped into isolationist sentiment and a general apathy on behalf of the American public on foreign policy issues.

The strategic Defence Initiative, Central America and the contra war against Sandinista regime, as well as securing the release of U.S citizens held hostage in Lebanon; were the primary objectives of Reagan's foreign policy. Reagan pursued these with single- mindedness of purpose and simplicity of means. Reagan's rhetoric was extreme, but in comparison the actions were moderate. Reagan's use of presidential autonomy was important on supporting the contras and dealing with Iran, he employed the staff agencies responsive particularly to him such as the NSC and the CIA- On the diplomatic level America became unilateralist in its attitude toward structures of international accord. Meeting with Soviet representatives were delayed and inconstant, a policy the administration made very clear by depriving Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin of his customary private entry to the State Department. The Reagan formula for foreign policy was representative of his states craft generally: take a simple position founded on principle, adhere to it stubbornly, and let others such as colleagues, foreign diplomats and members of congress make the concessions and fill in the detail. The Reagan presidencies were anything but isolationist. Policy was formulated to bring about a resurgence of U.S strength, pride and global standing. Reagan was an ideologue and a strident advocate of change. Vice President Bush, however, was troubled by the speed of change on foreign issues and was convinced that the interests of the United States would be best served by cautious conservative policies built on excellent international diplomacy. Thus, the Bush administration was composed of moderates and pragmatists. Both the Reagan and Bush administrations can be described as clearly focused and interventionist. In contrast however, the Clinton administration takes a different approach, one that whilst interventionist, is reactionary, sporadic and a departure from his initial inclinations. This has tapped into isolationist sentiment and a general apathy on behalf of the American public on foreign policy issues.



In 1981 the Reagan administration won enactment of major income tax cuts, and defence spending increases of 1.2 trillion dollars. The existing arms balances and control arrangements between the two Superpowers were built on fear, or what was labeled "mutual assured destruction". However Reagan made the arms control picture more exciting by endorsing the development of a sweeping new system of defence from nuclear attack. On 23 March 1983, at the conclusion of a television address scheduled to shore up support for his defence budget, the President evoked a vision of developments in defensive military technology that would render nuclear weapons "impotent and obsolete". The Strategic Defensive Initiative (SDI) or "**star wars**", became a centrepiece of the President's nuclear policies and the arms control debate. SDI became the one answer to all of America's foreign policy concerns. U. S. build-up was followed by Soviet readiness to dismantle weapons. When the treaty was ratified, the Russians were committed to destroy, within three years, 1752 missiles, compared to 867 missiles destroyed by the United States. It must be concluded that Reagan's fixity of aim and determined rhetoric was responsible for a major break through in cold war arms reduction.

The transition in foreign policy from Reagan to Bush was smooth and effortless. There was continuity in policy, if not in personnel and since Bush as VP was fully aware with Reagan's policies and diplomatic friends abroad, he could carry on the major programs underway between the U. S. and the USSR- However to show his independence of Reagan and to stress the non-ideological nature of his administration, he replaced confrontation with compromise over Nicaragua and South Africa. Within two months he had negotiated a compromise on Contra aid with congress and effectively removed the issue from his foreign policy agenda. Part of the reason for this rejection of ideological programs and grand schemes may have been the recognition by Bush that many of Reagan's problems and weaknesses had come from an overly doctrinaire approach to policy issues.([])

media type="custom" key="3816407"