Croft Commentary

Ideology and American Foreign Policy This election year has brought foreign policy to the forefront of public attention. Many criticized the views of both candidates on world issues. Some said that Barack Obama was too idealistic and naïve in his approach when he said he would have presidential talks with controversial world figures. Others criticized John McCain when he spoke against hasty withdrawals from Iraq. How much of a role do each candidate’s ideologies play into their foreign policy decisions? What roles do ideologies play traditionally in American politics? American Liberalism has traditionally been more world-oriented, with emphasis on individual rights, while American Conservatism has been more nationalistic in its viewpoint, with emphasis on traditional social values. But this is an overly simplified analysis of American politics. Individual viewpoints for a whole populace do not fall on a simple, one-dimensional line from left-to-right. There are too many variables...