This paper reviews the article "The Clash of Civilizations" by Samuel Huntington that argues that conflicts in the future will occur between the different civilizations.
Abstract This paper discusses the article "The Clash of Civilizations" by Samuel Huntington based on the idea of cultures and to which civilization a particular culture belongs. This paper looks at civilization itself as the cause of conflicts because of differing values. The author says that the clash of civilizations will dominate global conflict, pitting Non-Western states against Western culture.
From the Paper "A civilization is the highest level to which one can group people (24). During the cold war, civilizations were classified as being in the first, second or third worlds. Now, each state is different in terms of its culture and to which civilization it belongs (23). Huntington says, "a civilization is a cultural entity. Villages, regions, ethnic groups, nationalities, religious groups, all have distinct cultures at different levels of cultural heterogeneity" (23-24). Civilizations also have sub civilizations."
Tags: values, global, non-western, western, war, borders, religion, power, history
Abstract The paper shows that after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Americans are wondering if the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East is in need of radical modification or whether the present policy should hold firm. The paper examines the suggestion that United States foreign policy has long reflected imperialist tendencies of American monopolistic capital that exemplifies the nation's quest for world supremacy.
From the Paper "Foreign policy reflects an attempt to coexist within the boundaries of civilized reality; however, the divided interpretations of what civilized reality truly means have often clouded the very essence behind the concept of foreign policy. When the established policy does not provide for friendly relations, then the only alternative arrangement finds that the parties involved are struggling to overpower each other in an attempt to either acquire or maintain political superiority. After the September 11 attacks upon the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Americans are wondering if the US foreign policy in the Middle East is in need of radical modification or whether the present policy should hold firm. "Now more than ever, timely, detailed analysis of the changing foreign policy and security environments of Central Asia and the Middle East is essential to American security policy" (Eurasia Program)."
Abstract This research paper includes an overview of the European Union, its history, principles and policies on trade. It analyzes the European Union's Impact on international trade and briefs the reader on the impact of the trade block on trade positions of the U.S. and Japan. The author discusses current issues and disputes between the US and the EU and includes statistics to illustrate the effects of the EU on world trade.
From the Paper The European market is big, much as the United States. The European Union and the USA represent 30.1% and 24.5% of global GDP respectively. Together, the two economic giants represent half of the world GDP. (See Diagram 1). As such, any actions that these two economies do will affect the rest of the world. In fact, the establishment of the European Union has effected ripples of economic growth or depression on its member states and other countries as well. And as the influence of the EU grows, so does its relationship with the rest of the world become more important. The EU currently holds agreements with almost every region in the world. Just as much of the EU's policies involve reduction of barriers and increased trade among its members, its external policies have involved increased trade globally and deepening relationships with other countries. The logic behind this double-edged mission is the realization that a barrier-free global economy is key to optimum progress.
Tags: block, eu, history, international, japan, policies, trade, union, us
From the Paper "The following is a survey of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations which was created at the Paris Peace Conference after World War I. This survey will outline what the League was, why the United States -- after originally being the driving force behind the League's creation -- ended up refusing to participate in it, what successes the League had, and why it failed in the 1930s, leading to World War II.
In the aftermath of World War I, the "war to end war," the victorious Allied leaders were deeply concerned to ensure that such a war could not happen again. Among the means considered for preventing future general wars was the formation, for the first time, of an international organization that would embody the "world community," and that would act to restrain potential future aggressors. Such organizations had been proposed before, both..."
From the Paper "This paper will discuss the Cuban missile crisis and the involvement of John F. Kennedy's administration in the crisis. The purpose of this paper is to explain what the Cuban missile crisis was as well as how John F. Kennedy and his administration handled the crisis. This paper will also address the following issues: how the Bay of Pigs invasion related to the crisis; how Kennedy and the Democratic party played an important role in the crisis; how Kennedy delegated authority during the crisis; and how Kennedy waited until after the Bay of Pigs before making a public announcement about the crisis.
Although many Americans refer to the Kennedy administration's fiasco as either the administration's fiasco as either the Bay of Pigs invasion or the Cuban missile crisis, those names are somewhat confusing. The Bay of Pigs invasion..."
An analysis of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended the First World War. Discuses how the French fear of Germany led to harsh terms and German bristling at the harsh terms led to the Second World War.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, 1995, $ 39.95
From the Paper "The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I , yet virtually none of the parties which signed this document were satisfied with the terms. The two bitterest enemies of the Great War, Germany and France, had suffered devastating losses as a result of four years of intense fighting across their shared borders. Their opposing viewpoints regarding how peace in Europe should be maintained were described in the book, Sources of the Western Tradition, Volume II: From the Renaissance to the Present, edited by Marvin Perry, Joseph R. Peden, and Theodore H. Von Laue (1995).
As victors, the French demanded extreme measures of punishment against the Germans both for reasons of revenge and as a means of securing their territory from future threats of German invasion. The French were in large part motivated by the fact that the major ..."
This paper explores the current realationship between the United States and Mexico, focusing on the role of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
1,340 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 45.95
Abstract The paper begins by presenting a synopsis of U.S./Mexico relations, focusing on the two major issues of trade and immigration. It then turns to the NAFTA organization, claiming that its main goals were intended to be the bolstering of the Mexican economy by creating more manufacturing jobs south of the border, and the opening up of trade from the US to Mexico. The paper studies the beneficial effect of NAFTA on the U.S., Canada and Mexico; looking, in particular, at U.S. import crops. The paper explores the viewpoint of opponents of NAFTA as well as U.S. public opinion about the agreement. The issue of fluidity of the U.S./ Mexican border is discussed as is the impact of 9/11 on the Americans? feelings about border control. The paper concludes with a discussion on the Mexican image of Bush with and recommendations on what the president can do to enhance U.S. relations with Mexico.
From the Paper "At present, although the United States and Mexico are embraced in an atmosphere of cooperation that is unprecedented, there are still potential areas of conflict that could chill relations between the two countries if they are not handled with great diplomacy. The tricky part here for President Bush, Mexican President Fox and other leaders is that these issues are more about perception than they are based on reality. The two major issues that come up the most are directly related to one another. These two issues, trade and immigration also touch on other politically sensitive issues which include environmental concerns, worker conditions, economic parity, political freedom, and governmental control."
Abstract This paper discusses the background, problems of illegal drugs trafficking and the methods being used to stop the trafficking of drugs in the United States. This paper reveals that money seized in drug stings and received from fines for drug offenders is a billion dollar industry for the American government. The author believes that completely ending the entire drug trafficking business is almost impossible because there are too many loopholes and too much money at stake for both the dealers and the government.
From the Paper "The largest distributor of drugs, especially cocaine, comes from Columbia. Interagency intelligence assessment statistics say that nearly sixty-five percent of all cocaine goes through the southern borders of the United States. Columbian dealers send the drugs through Mexico, whose laws are not nearly as strict, and the dealers in Mexico bring them across the border. They come through Texas and New Mexico by ground and California by ground, air and seaports."
Abstract This paper takes the realist IR theory and applies it to the DPRK during its nuclear standoff with the United States. The paper shows how the DPRK's pursuit of a nuclear program represents the realist idea of absolute capabilities. It also discusses how the DPRK has the means to create and sustain a nuclear program that would rival that of U.S. and her allies; and the significance of such a reality.
From the Paper "In the early 1990s, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, North Korea or the DPRK, entered into a pact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) therefore allowing their various nuclear facilities and installations to be inspected; the DPRK signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), asserting a commitment to disarmament and no development. In 1994, DPRK and the United States of America entered into an agreement framework (AF); in this agreement the DPRK would shut down their factories capable of developing weapons grade nuclear material and the U.S. would replace two nuclear reactors in Korea. In 2002, the U.S. showed intelligence evidence that DPRK had been pursuing a nuclear weapons development program, violating the 1994 agreements and the NPT; having admitted to the existence of a program, the AF collapsed. After having been dubbed an “axis of evil” and target by the U.S. for its war on terrorism, DPRK withdrew for the NPT, and unprecedented move. The DPRK has been approaching this issue from a realist perspective."
Abstract This paper explores Bernard Lewis's book entitled "What Went Wrong? Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response" and shows how it accurately investigates the influences of Western art, societal positions of women, both imperialist and revolutionary policies domestic and abroad, and Christianity upon the Middle East.
From the Paper "Lewis explains these encroachments of Western influence in direct contrast to the often insufficient responses from the Middle East. Lewis applies his viewpoint concerning what he perceives as limitations imposed by Islamic indoctrination to answer the general inquiry "what went wrong"?. He includes the largely inferior Middle Eastern reactions against the vast superiority of Western diplomatic affairs. This Western enforcement of foreign relation policies upon the collectively unwilling Middle East resulted from the its numerous victories achieved on battlefields by utilizing further advanced military tactics and weaponry."
Abstract The League of Nations, which lasted from 1920 to 1946, was born out American outrage over the idea that Americans were sacrificing increasing numbers of men towards making the world safe for democracy while Europeans were concerned with potential war booty. This paper traces the beginnings of the League with Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points", his intentional exclusion of Russia and Germany from the League and the part the League played in causing the Second World War.
From the Paper "Americans distrusted foreign alliances after the revelation of the secret treaties and subsequent revelations that most of the horror stories of German atrocities that encouraging America's entry into the war had been fabricated in London. (Brinkley, p. 358.) Whether or not America's participation in the League of Nations could have prevented World War II is a matter of speculation, but Wilson predicted the possibility as he fruitlessly campaigned for his cause. The complex issues leading to World War II were based in the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles that included reparations of $32 billion. The forces in Germany that had pursued policies of world domination before 1914 remained powerful and expectant; the German right denied there had been any Allied victory."
Tags: Leon, Trotsky, Treaty, of, Versailles, Dawes, Plan
Abstract This paper argues that the current situation with Iraq and the inaction by the United Nations to take action against Saddam Hussein has stark similarities to the situation involving Germany and the League of Nations following World War I. It recalls how Germany managed to rearm itself after the Treaty of Versailles, despite the existence of the League of Nations. The paper shows that despite a ban by the United Nations on Iraq to produce weapons after the Gulf War of 1991, Hussein managed to continue producing weapons of mass-destruction and harbouring terrorists. The paper argues, therefore, that America's military attempts to stop Saddam Hussein are justified and that history will prove them right, as it did in the Second World War.
From the Paper "It is astounding that so many seem to forget the many contributions and sacrifices the United States has made to world stability over the last hundred years. The world cries ?imperialism!? with every mention of an allied force occupying Iraq after a war. Meanwhile, all recollection of the United States? role in winning World War I, World War II, countless other conflicts, and in the subsequent reconstruction following these conflicts goes unnoticed. One must just look at this track record in history to resolve that these claims are nothing short of ridiculous.
Europe was saved by the United States in both World War I and World War II. The French, in particular, forget that they would be speaking German (twice) if the United States hadn?t saved them during both world wars. After World War II, it was the Marshall Plan that quickly restored Europe from devastation to prosperity. While post-war politics resulted in some countries falling under the sphere of influence of others, the United States did not use those countries under its sphere for personal gain or for the installation of puppet governments."
Abstract This position paper addresses some of the critical events which occurred, key decisions taken and personalities involved in the Korean War (1950-1953). The paper covers the United States' decision to intervene in the conflict between North and South Korea, the main 'characters' in the conflict and the outcome.
Paper Headings:
Background and Causes of the Conflict
Causes of the War
Decision to Intervene
Scoundrels and Heroes
Kim Il Sung
Louis Johnson
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Macarthur
Truman and Acheson
Brutality
Good or Bad - Final Results
From the Paper "The United States did not use nuclear weapons in the Korean War; however, Eisenhower warned the Chinese and North Koreans in the spring of 1953 that they might be used in order to induce them to conclude the armistice talks which finally resulted in a truce on July 27, 1953. Truman misspoke at a press conference on November 30, 1950 when he indicated that consideration had been given to the employment of nuclear weapons and "the military commander in the field will take charge of [their use], as he always has" (Goulden 396). The United States did make large-scale conventional air raids on populated areas in North Korea in 1951-1953 to accelerate the armistice talks and to disrupt enemy communications and transport."
Examines the importance of game theory in analyzing foreign policy decision-making and outcomes and its compatibility with other foreign policy models and systems.
Abstract Game theory is the use of mathematical models to predict the outcome of a dispute or interaction between two or more independent actors. It has been applied in a wide range of contexts, including gambling, business and international relations. This essay examines the importance of game theory when analysing the foreign policy decision-making process. It argues that while simple games such as the Prisoner's Dilemma may not illuminate the process on their own, more complex models can offer a systemic device by which foreign policy can be analyzed more accurately.
From the Paper "Perhaps the most widely recognised game is the Prisoner's Dilemma, which examines the choices faced by two people arrested for the same crime, and observes the likelihood that they would both accuse the other one, and thus both go to jail. When used in foreign policy analysis, it is often used to describe the nature of arms races, or the possibility of nuclear fallout. This is a non-zero-sum game, a game where it is possible for both players to lose, or to win (as opposed to a zero-sum game, where one actor's gain is always equal to another actor's loss)."
Abstract This paper examines critically the disagreements over international trade issues which led to the failure of the trade negotiations at the November 30-December 3, 1999 meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle, Washington. It discusses how the 134 trade ministers who met in Seattle failed to agree on further liberalization of the global trading system because of substantive differences among the developed nations and between them and the less developed countries (LDCs) over a wide range of issues. It analyzes how the anti-WTO demonstrations, marches and sporadic violence outside the convention center where delegates to the WTO conference met did not cause those disagreements, but how the debacle in Seattle reflected the growing political strength of the forces of economic nationalism which has arrested progress toward further reduction in international trade barriers.
From the Paper "One reason the conference failed was that it was hastily arranged without pre-agreement among any of the participants even as to the items to be placed on the agenda of the conference. The term of the previous director general of WTO, an Italian, Renato Ruggiero, ended on April 30, 1999. Between then and September a debilitating struggle over his successor ensued. Japan and most Third World members supported the candidacy of Thai Supachai Pantichpakdi while the United States and the European Union (EU) favored Michael Moore, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who was ultimately selected, but did not take office until after September 1. The Economist said that "preparations for Seattle started later and little common ground was found." Barchefsky was preoccupied with the WTO negotiations with the PRC and other trade disputes."
