The bitter reality is that U.S. foreign policy has no definable objective other than blocking the initiatives of others because they stand in the way of the further expansion of U.S. global interests. This impoverished strategy reflects Washington’s refusal to accept the passing of its relatively brief post–Cold War moment of unipolar power.My quibble with the analysis is that it begins post WWII. The problem really begins with European imperialism and European rivalries, in particular between Britain and various Continental powers. This lead to WWI and the terms of peace imposed at the instigation of Britain led to the rise of Hitler.
There is an error all too common in American public opinion. Personalizing Washington’s regression into the role of spoiler by assigning all blame to one man, now Donald Trump, deprives one of deeper understanding. This mistake was made during the steady attack on civil liberties after the Sept. 11 tragedies and then during the 2003 invasion of Iraq: namely that it was all George W. Bush’s fault. It was not so simple then and is not now. The crisis of U.S. foreign policy—a series of radical missteps—are systemic. Having little to do with personalities, they pass from one administration to the next with little variance other than at the margins.
Let us bring some history to this question of America as spoiler. What is the origin of this undignified and isolating approach to global affairs?..
The British Empire was replaced with the Anglo-American Empire post WWII, and the outlook and agenda remains the same.
The big picture cannot be seen independently of European and American history, which includes global history owing to imperialism and colonialism. While the age of imperialism may be over, the age of empire is not. Imperialism and colonialism have morphed into neo-imperialism and neocolonialism, and this is on track for another great war — as previously in the Western tradition, which history reveals.
Why the U.S. Seeks to Hem in Russia, China and Iran
Patrick Armstrong
1 comment:
“The problem really begins with European imperialism and European rivalries…”
I think the problem really begins with the dawn of human civilization. Ancient Greek, Roman, and probably Egyptian societies had slavery. African tribes had slavery. Hebrews had slavery. Arab societies had slavery (e.g. the Abbasid Caliphate). Some Native American tribes had slavery. Columbus’ arrival in the New World launched centuries of slavery and genocide.
So long as some humans think they are better than other humans, we will have slavery in one form or another.
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