Clinton's Foreign Policy: A Minefield of Unpredictability

Strategic Insights -

President Clinton's foreign policy has become increasingly contentious as the US struggles to find its place in the post-Cold War era. The US's reluctance to involve itself in international crises, such as the violence in Rwanda, has frustrated other UN members and human rights groups. This reticence is exemplified by the Presidential Decision Directive 25, which outlines strict conditions for US approval of peacekeeping operations.

The administration's confused approach to foreign policy has been met with criticism from a wide range of stakeholders. In Europe, the US is accused of doing too little to stem the wars in the former Yugoslavia, while in Asia, the administration is seen as picking fights over human rights while bullying unfairly on trade issues. Closer to home, many Haitians feel that the US has done too little to help restore democracy to the island nation.

Clinton's foreign policy team is also beset by internal conflicts, with some policymakers advocating for a more interventionist approach, while others prefer a more isolationist strategy. This has led to a shift in the familiar categorizations between hawks and doves, with some former opponents of US intervention now advocating for a more proactive foreign policy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US's reluctance to involve itself in international crises, such as the violence in Rwanda, has frustrated other UN members and human rights groups.
  • The Presidential Decision Directive 25 outlines strict conditions for US approval of peacekeeping operations.
  • The administration's confused approach to foreign policy has been met with criticism from a wide range of stakeholders, including European leaders, human rights groups, and Haitians.
  • The internal conflicts within the administration's foreign policy team have led to a shift in the familiar categorizations between hawks and doves.
  • The end of the Cold War has brought a collapse in the post-World War II internationalist consensus in the US, leading to a growing divide between populist nationalists and economically elite internationalists.
  • This divide is said to presage a widening class gap in US politics.

Statistics:

  • 5500 troops were to be sent to Rwanda to end the violence, but the plan was deferred at the behest of the US.
  • The Presidential Decision Directive 25 outlines 5 strict conditions for US approval of peacekeeping operations.
  • 18 months: the length of time the Clinton administration has been marked by reticence and confusion in foreign policy.

Sources:

  • Pilita Clark, "Clinton's Foreign Policy: A Minefield of Unpredictability," The Financial Times, no date.
  • "Presidential Decision Directive 25," no date.
  • Alan Tonelson, "The End of the Internationalist Consensus," National Interest, no date.