U.S. Foreign Policy After 9/11

Evaluation of Relative Importance of Democracy Promotion, Power

Politics, and Oil in Determining U.S. Foreign Policy Towards

Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabic After 9/11

All governments pursue in the course of their regular activities the development and execution of foreign policies, policies ideally designed to promote the interests of the nation-state and to position it favorably with respect to its competitors or neighbors (Sodaro, 2004). By definition, foreign policy in any country tends to be formed around nationalism,, defined as a consciously formulated set of political ideas that emphasize the distinctiveness and unity of the country, specifying common interests, and prescribing goals for action (Sodaro, 2004).

In the context of international affairs, foreign policies become key mechanism for structuring both bilateral and multilateral relationships between nation-states. Such policies are more than ideological positions; they are representative of the actual framework within which political, economic, cultural, diplomatic, and social interactions will occur.

There are any number of theories describing the policy formation process and orientation. Among those theories are rational choice or rational actor theory, a political science derivative of economics stemming from the assumption that human beings are motivated in their economic behavior by material self-interest. Rational choice or rational actor theory as artic

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reats from militant Islam, Kuwait appears to be less vulnerable than Saudi Arabia. The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 has also complicated the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. This has not occurred with respect to the relationship between the U.S. and Kuwait, which has rejoiced in the demise of Saddam Hussein (Bahgat, 2003). Iraq was selected for inclusion in this study for what should be obvious reasons. The U.S. continues to have a strong military and diplomatic presence on the ground in Iraq - a presence seen as necessary to ensure that the movement to democratization taking place in the country continues and to ensure that ongoing insurgencies in Iraq do not become outright civil war. Indeed, as Jervis (2003) has noted, Iraq is very much a test case for democratization and nation building as these concepts are understood by the Bush Doctrine. These three cases indicate the many complexities of American foreign policy in the Middle East. Other states in the Arabic Gulf are equally significant. Jervis (2003) noted that Egypt, Israel, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon, and Libya are also challenges for American policymakers. Iran, as it has been for the last almost 30 years, is a

Category: Government - U