How Have Wars Resulted in Transition from US Isolationist Foreign Policy to a Global Superpower - Literature review Example

Topic: How have wars and political ideologies resulted in the transition from an isolationist foreign policyin America to one in which the nation is now a global superpower? The evolution and transition of American governance is politically shaped by its leaders’ ideological perspectives, some of which drove them to violent wars with other nations. This research paper will explicate the subject of the study by exploring literatures which correlate historical and political causes of American wars and ideologies as well as how these interrelate to the nation’s political dominance as global superpower. War for Independence & Democracy US wars in the 18th century have been considered as wars staged for national independence to free themselves from the control of rulers. The nation rose up against the political control of European subjugators. In 1774, Americans opposed the Coercive Acts, Quebec Act and other rules imposed by British government to chain them as vassals (Flynn,1944). As a retort, they adopted the Continental Association which technically declared an embargo of the British exports and stoppage of British slave trading using black people. In total quest for freedom, John Hancock and Joseph Warren led civil disturbance against British government (Flynn,1944). They declared and uphold the right to life, liberty and property as fundamental to human beings existence. This movement was popularized with the cause “give me liberty or give me death” and that adage “resolve to die as freeman than live as slaves” in 1775 (Flynn,1944). The suppression of the movement led to American Revolution which killed hundreds of people. Thomas Paine’s publication “Common Sense” in Philadelphia criticized the King George rule and was discursive about American independence (Flynn,1944). The war raged on until the declaration of Treaty of Paris and the signage of Commerce and Treaty of Alliance (Taylor, 2011). USA became an ally of France in 1778 and has become its official military supplier. Both fight together until American independence was gained in 1865. Although the year brought significant changes of American politics as 13th Amendment was upheld outlawing slavery, but the same year also bring the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (Taylor, 2011). They have perceived that subjugators are authors of larceny, barbarism, murder and rapine. Slavery was abolished by the Supreme Court and ended the feudal relation. It commenced the struggle for greater democracy and recognition of equality as inherent right of the people. Commerce and trading flourished as America thrived with developments (Taylor, 2011). The affluence of American nation made Flyn (1944), an American journalist, wrote that Americans are people destined to redevelop their victims and became captive market as America used education as instrument to educate those nations perceived savaged and ignorant peoples “while blundering accidentally into their oil wells.” (p. 240). Such was perceived as theory of cultural and neo-imperialism. After the fight against slavery, America confronted civil strife against neighboring powerful nations in a struggle to control regions and trading relations (Taylor, 2011). In 1950s, US and UN members fought against North Korean forces for three years and in 1953 US authored the overthrowing of Iranian government and the Guatemala government in 1954. The same strategy was used to overthrow Chilean government in 1973 (Taylor, 2011). In a battle of democracy and communists perspectives within trading relations, US controlled some regions in the Southern region while others were controlled by the communist Russian (Taylor, 2011). In 1983, US invade Grenada while Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in Germany following that year. A decade after, George Bush and Gorbachev agreed to the reunification in 1994(Taylor, 2011). The Cold War is fundamentally a latent conflicting interest of dominant and advanced nations in controlling the economic potential of regions. In the 19th century, USA heightened its military engagement in Middle East and have enforced war at the Gulf in 1991. In 2000, George Bush declared war on terror against Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacked in an act of war (Taylor, 2011). Meanwhile, as anti-terror drive was regionalized, Clinton from 1994-2000 partake his campaign or a technology driven economy. As Soviet Union collapsed, America assumed the role as global police and such aided in the capture of Osama bin Laden, primary suspect of 9/11 attack, under the current term of president Barrack Obama (Taylor, 2011). Political Ideological Wars were actually ideologically driven of polarized world: democratic and the communists. Democracy is a system which supports free trade, free market, liberalized economy and globalization. It’s a system supportive of capitalism where economy is driven by capital and the utilization of resources is enjoyed through competition of private entrepreneurs. The system is profit-driven and market relations are defined by labor relations or market leveraging although they may differ in motives. Downs (1957) explicated that under democratic aspirations the government is not only peoples’ representatives but is expected to craft laws and policies that are supportive of free trade and borderless economy. Market thrives with open, free, divergent, assisted with technology and vibrant of communication as instrument for leveraging products in the market. Although the government can organize a corporation but still, free economy rest on private enterprise. The economic theory of communism, on the other hand, is best explicated in Marx’s Das Capital. Communists are opposed to accumulation and centralization of capital. Marx theorized that all commodities have its quantitative element and that products are produced through labor (May, 1973). Communists adopted a socialist economic theory where production is made by human capital and which Marx explained as characterized by the abolition of classes and state’s control over property (Naik, 2010). Marx defined a system as a communal state where there is common ownership in the means of production as opposed to private ownership in the capitalist economy. There is primacy of social welfare for the people over individual profit (Naik, 2010). Farmers dwell in communal farms and business is operated by the state to ascertain that there is public ownership of resources (Naik, 2010). It is perceived that this public ownership of resources discouraged inequalities in the distribution of wealth. Communist economy is evident in Vietnam, Cuba and China, although the latter have already opened its door for trading relations, including with that of America (Naik, 2010). Communism is opposed to capitalism and private accumulation of wealth. Such difference and ideological worldview caused ideological and political rifts, concealed or latent (Pilgrim,2010). At the core, they differ in the concept of ownership of production and resources; theoretically opposed in the concept of freedom; and capitalist believed that communists kill individual enterprise(Pilgrim,2010). This conflict is reflected in political relations and encouraged these nations to define the nature of their international or foreign policy relations (Pilgrim,2010). From isolationism to global power Isolationism is a national protective policy where a government prefers to abstain from political and economic relations with other nations. Isolationist policy was adopted by America at a time when it suffered the debilitating effect of economic depression when American Wall Street economic market collapsed. The economy was so badly shaped, some of which are attributed to the banking system (Naik,2010). US president Herbert Hoover defined the situation as an economic crisis where American economy lost $30 billion dollars of which $14 billion dollars alone was gone in a day (Naik,2010). Canada was hit at the worst as global trade collapsed when many countries resisted the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act legislated by the US government. Half a million of populace were displaced and incomes were lowered (Naik,2010). Three millions of children stopped schooling amid the crises and such problem lasted for about 4 years (Naik,2010). Economic depression lasted until the World War II commenced. The bad impact of this war was remembered through the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings made by United States (Naik,2010). The war was characterized with the fight between allies. America allied with United Kingdom and Soviet Union fought against Germany, Japan, and Italy (Naik,2010). The war, caused by polarized nations, was so destructive in effect. Authorities at that time contend that the WW II was a result of WWI when Adolf Hitler upheld Nazism in 1930s. Nazism is a political ideology which adheres to racism, expansionism using violent means. This is further bolstered by Benito Mussolini who led a fascist dictatorship and was wielding power using violence, racism and totalitarianism (Naik,2010). The war affects the European and Asian nations as territorial borders were redrawn. The victors of this territorial expansion was Soviet Union which occupied parts of Finland, Poland, Japan, Germany and some independent states as part of its regional area of control (Naik,2010). Germany was divided into four parts: France, United States, Soviet Union and Great Britain. The WWII changed the political relations elaborately ended into Cold War (Naik,2010). As a consequence of this, the foreign relations also changed. Subjugated nations became subjects of economic activities, controlled by American multinational corporations and capitalists. Conclusion: America as the Superpower The 21st century depicts America now as one of the leading superpower which share general control of many nations. It has developed economic control and political dominance at a globally. America played crucial role in the international institution, such as United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), World-Bank-International Monetary Fund WB-IMF),and in its foreign relations. It assumed the role as police of the world by deploying its forces in many strategic regions. It leads the drive against the anti-terror campaign as well as in advancing information technology and scientific discoveries. US wield a military power and have shared it with the world as part of global security management against terrorism. America’s foreign relations are driven too by its neo-liberal imperial strategy as they advocated for globalization and trade expansion in the pacific and south regions of the globe. As author of liberalized economy, America promotes Free Trade with its allied nations in the exaction of natural resources and in the import-export relations. At a globalized order, America developed a worldwide market for multinational companies and for the customers which increase the access to products from different countries (Downs, 1957). In this economic system, resources and cash flows are made consistent which lower the gap of currency rates against dollars. Worldwide markets are recently developed with the increase of production through industrialization. Competition too is encouraged through diversity, leveraging, ventures and partnership to achieve a certain level of economic hegemony (May,1973). US business sectors and bureaucrats are also interested in exploring the vast potential of mineral resources, agricultural produce, and other resources in nations while America also trades their technology and inventions. For them, world power is being established against compartmentalization of power sectors. Politics became vibrant with merging and decisions that are undertaken at the presumption that its will better and will be more significant for the world. America’s foreign relation also developed a borderless communication and commonalities are shared while diversity are encouraged or respected. As foreign relations are extended too to Muslim countries and in Asian nations, America has indeed depicted the image of a global superpower which encouraged multiculturalism and respect to cultural diversity of people. They see this as an opportunity: to relate, to build business relations and to learn. Cultural intermingling became the trend as they rediscover similarities and appreciate distinction. America wielded that power with evident financial and corporate interests for economic liberalization and for cross-cultural interrelations. Politically, it matured as a more open and greatly tolerant to other nation’s systems and beliefs. It has become more approachable in fact, through the intervention of technology. Development and progressed speed up as internet and e-commerce bridge the gaps of geographic differences of nations. As the world advance and progress, America too benefitted with a freer foreign relations and more opened communications. It’s nonetheless hoped to resolve the misunderstanding and conflict as people are globally drawn to know more each other through information technology. This however remained critically looked by communist nations as repulsive to their protected culture. Other remained adamant that liberalization, as espoused by America, will truly be beneficial and significant to them. Thus, while America posed as a friendly state to the world, there remained a necessity to nurture political and economic balance in its international relations and foreign diplomatic policies. References Naik,Abhijit (2010). Communist economy. Buzzle.com: Intelligent Life on Web. Costa Mesa, CA,USA. Naik,Abhijit (2010). Facts About the Great depression. Buzzle.com: Intelligent Life on Web. Costa Mesa, CA,USA. Pilgrim, Gray(2010). Communism versus Capitalism. Buzzle.com: Intelligent Life on Web. Costa Mesa, CA,USA. John T. Flynn, (1944). As We Go Marching. American History. Coll. 116, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon. p.240 Reeves, Thomas C., (2000). "Twentieth Century America: A Brief History," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195044843. Taylor, Quintard, Jr (2011), Timeline: War of Independence. United States History. Department of History, University of Washington, Accessed: http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/a_us_history/cold_war_timeline.htm December, 17, 2011. Taylor, Quintard, Jr.(2011), Timeline: Cold War. United States History. Department of History, University of Washington, http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/a_us_history/1900_2000_timeline.htm December, 17, 2011 May, Ernest R. (1973). "Lessons" of the past: The use and misuse of history in American foreign policy, Oxford University Press  (New York) Downs, Anthony (1957). An economic Theory of political action in a Democracy. The Journal of Political Economy,Vol. 65.No. 2 Chicago,Illinois. Pp 135-150. Read More