What role do the underlying tensions of global activism, moral values, and conflicting goals play in American foreign policy?

What will be an ideal response?

Americans often possess conflicting ideological beliefs regarding America’s role in the world that can have a significant impact on the formulation of foreign policy. Global activism, moral values, and conflicting goals are the three key areas where we see these conflicting beliefs play out. Global activism is the way that Americans see their role in the world. The United States is often referred to as a hegemon due to its predominance on the world’s political stage. Much of this is a matter of choice, particularly since World War II, when the policy of internationalism was adopted on a large scale. The internationalist view is opposed by those who argue that America should maintain more of an isolationist stance. The second tension centers on the question of whether or not American foreign policy should be guided by practical or moral considerations. A good example of this is war and whether under certain circumstances it is the moral thing to do in order to protect against foreign invasion or stop human rights violations whereas others argue that it is immoral to attack innocent civilians while fighting a war. A key question regarding morality is whether or not American foreign policy should be constrained by moral considerations. The third tension is conflicting goals. At the heart of this tension are the three basic goals that the U.S. attempts to pursue: defending the homeland, encouraging the growth of our economy, and supporting democracy in the world. These goals cannot always be attained simultaneously and so we must prioritize them. A particularly sensitive part of this problem involves the conflict between the protection of our political goals and our security goals. Responses should discuss the way this ideological tension has played out over the course of the war on terrorism. Finding the right balance between safety and security, liberty and freedom is a constant challenge to democratic governments.