A country’s policies shape the way it interacts with the world. Foreign policy encompasses a broad range of strategies, from military alliances to diplomacy and development aid to the defense of national interests abroad. But all foreign policy aims to protect or advance a nation’s interests and values.
The United States has a powerful global influence, but its sway may be waning as emerging powers like China and Russia grow. What can help sustain American influence and what challenges lie ahead?
Many Americans see the president as the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy. But in fact, Congress sets policy through the House and Senate committees that oversee specific issues in different regions of the world. For example, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has six standing subcommittees with jurisdiction over issues related to HIV/AIDS, international development, and other policy areas in countries around the world.
Millennials appear to appreciate the value of cooperation, diplomacy and other tools for peacefully managing conflict, but seem more skeptical about whether the military is a useful tool in addressing international security threats. And despite concerns about the rising power of Russia and China, they tend to support the same goals as older generations, such as combatting terrorism, supporting Israel, and promoting human rights and international stability.