Sergio A. Lopez
Professor Muck
PSC 222
5 November 2015
Friends
Matter
The modern international community
relies on the continued respect for and forging of alliances. Having other nations
as allies gives an individual country more influence, as it creates the perception
of strength. Not only does a nation look stronger to the rest of the world, but
domestically people feel more comfortable, more protected. Times of peace are
dependent on the cooperation between alliances, and the continued relationships
within those alliances. The United States is not unique in this matter, as its
success also relies on the support of the international community. The foreign
policy of every nation, including one as powerful as the United States, is a
reflection of the goals of the individual state, but also includes—or at least
considers—the agenda of allied countries.
Forming alliances is hardly just a
matter of public perception, however; it has become a game of strategy. It
would not make much sense for two countries with a large variance in ideology
to become allies, as there would be conceivably far too many risks for
conflict. In the case between the United States and Israel, for example, there
are far more differences between the nations than there are similarities.
Justification for this strategic alliance came with the formation of a
democratic government in the state of Israel, a relatively rare form of
governance in the region. The relationship, however, has proven to be
disproportionately favorable to Israel and possibly even detrimental to the
credibility of the United States. American foreign policy in the Middle East
has largely focused on the defense of Israel, which has previously meant challenging
the strength of its neighboring countries. It has become, then, increasingly
awkward for the United States to publicly support Israel, as it seems there
is nothing profitable on their end of the partnership. Even still, the United States
continues to support Israel and continues to remain part of this alliance
because of strategy. As previously stated, public perception is important for
the success of any nation, and is something that a democratic nation must take
into consideration when drafting any sort of policy, foreign or domestic.
Specific to the case between the United States and Israel, it is important to
know that there are millions of people in the United States who feel very
strongly about a sustaining a positive relationship with Israel (mainly for religious
reasons). In short, the numerous amount of supporters in favor of keeping an
alliance with Israel has led to the formation of one of the most influential
interest groups in the United States, known as the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Powerful groups such as AIPAC force the United States
to adjust its political agenda, both domestic and foreign. The reason for this
is because legislators ultimately seek reelection, and having powerful super
packs fund an opposing campaign threatens a representatives chances of winning
reelection.
Perhaps the largest global measure
taken to promote cooperation between sovereign nations is the formation of the
United Nations, which currently holds 193 member states[1]. The formation of this entity has reasonably
been able to keep peace between member states, however it also limits maneuverability
of the individual states. Member states do not usually proceed with significant
foreign policy agendas without first presenting their case to the United
Nations and seeking approval. Although there is no formal punishment for acting
against the council of the United Nations, it does serve as a deterrent and
often leaves the acting state open for scrutiny of other nations, dealing a
blow to its credibility. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is also
a powerful alliance in the international community. Although NATO maintains a significantly
smaller amount of member states, it is similar to the United Nations in that it
is meant to maintain peace between member states. Unlike the United Nations,
however, NATO does maintain its own military, to which member states
contribute. In the event that diplomatic resolutions fail, the organization
forces contributing member states to actively engage in combat (with the amount
of ground troops the country provides to the organization). The United States
is a member of both organizations. When constructing an effective foreign policy
agenda, the United States must keep in mind the constraints of the alliances it
has become a part of. Matters that become urgent to either the UN or NATO must
also become urgent for the United States, and conflicts that endanger the
security of member states must also become a concern for the United States. In
many ways, the formation of global alliances limits the power and maneuverability
of individual states, which would ideally serve as a deterrent for states to
engage in conflict, be it diplomatic or military.
Works
Cited
Member
States. (2011). Retrieved from
United Nations: http://www.un.org/en/members/growth.shtml#text
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