Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Session 7: Foreign Policy Debate


Morgenthau describes that the US foreign policy is based on power politics and balance of power historically. However, the statement strikes a question in one's mind; did the nature of US foreign policy play a role in achieving goods for the world at large? If larger states are in capacity to pursue their own interests, then how the weaker states survive given the fact that they are smaller in sizes, population and have few economic opportunities that makes them ineffective in pursuing their own interests.
                                       
One believe that Morgenthau implies that the balance of power and power politics are only tools for those states who are larger in sizes, population and have ample economic provisions in the country. However, this implication for larger states may not always hold true. There are many reasons for this. First, there could be domestic upheavals and uncertain law and order situation that makes the central authority busy in dealing with these issues.

Second, fewer job opportunities in the state that make individuals discontent about the work of the government and they dissent against its decisions and authority. These reasons point to the fact that even larger states can find it hard to maintain power politics and balance of power in the international system, because the pursuance of state interests requires that the state remain stable internally. Hence, Morgenthau implies that America has remained stabled internally to always dominate the balance of power equation.

Lastly, the weaker states for Morgenthau will never be able to pursue their interests as equals, because they do not have the sufficient amount of resources to keep the stability of their country. Hence, one can argue that America due to its internal stability and better economic conditions has remained in the dominant position. If one day its stature as an economically and politically stable country declines then one could say that it will lose its dominance in power politics and balance of power equation.  


1 comment:

  1. I agree with your assessment Ali and this is one of the reasons why the U.S. is so concerned about its current economic standing. It does not want to weaken internally, because this will lead to external problems since it will no longer then be the dominant hegemon.

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