Obama’s Foreign Policy Debate

November 5, 2014

Be it resolved, Obama’s foreign policy is emboldening our enemies and making the world a more dangerous place…

From Ukraine to the Middle East to China, the United States is redefining its role in international affairs. Alliance building, public diplomacy, and eschewing traditional warfare in favour of the focused use of hard power such as drones and special forces are all hallmarks of the so-called Obama Doctrine. Is this a farsighted foreign policy for the United States and the world in the 21st century – one that acknowledges and embraces the increasing diffusion of power among states and non-state actors?

Or, is an America “leading from behind” a boon for the nations and blocs who want to roll back economic globalization, international law, and the spread of democracy and human rights?