As the world’s largest economy and military power, the United States is uniquely positioned to shape global politics. But this carries enormous burdens, and its foreign policy decisions can affect people thousands of miles away. It requires balancing the costs of maintaining America’s outsized influence with the desire to help forge and maintain international institutions that uphold basic principles, including free trade, democratic governance, and the use of force as a last resort.
These institutions often serve to reduce tensions among the world’s greatest powers. They provide forums for diplomatic solutions to disputes that could otherwise lead to costly wars, or that are simply inimical to America’s economic and security interests. They include a network of international organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, as well as continental diplomatic bodies like the African Union and the Organization of American States.
Amid the debate over whether a more robust American role in the world is needed, voters tuning into the presidential race should pay particular attention to foreign policy, as it reflects the competing ideological tendencies of the candidates and their teams. It will be particularly important to know which team believes the United States should continue to seek to promote human rights, democracy and open markets. It will also be important to understand whether the team will pursue a strategy that is aimed at reducing U.S. military involvement abroad, after a generation of Americans watched their country’s global commitments balloon for what felt like diminishing returns at home.