Big Picture
Eras Tour
Who's Who
Tools and Threats
Fighting Words
100

This term, describing the absence of a central governing authority, is one reason foreign policy is different from domestic policy.

Anarchy

100

According to McDougall, early US foreign policy was not isolationist but this overused term.

Unilateral

100

His doctrine expanded the scope of the US national interest by declaring the Americas off limits to new European colonization. 

Monroe

100

The rise of this country sparks concern about US decline.

China

100

This narrative identified a global terror threat that required a proactive military response.

War on Terror Narrative

200

State preferences that promote the long-term well-being of society.

National interest

200
References to a humanitarian crisis made this military action a turning point in US foreign policy.

The Spanish-American War

200

This branch of government has the power to declare war and appropriate funds.

Legislative (Congress)

200

To count as a military intervention, this type of troops must be deployed across international orders with a coercive purpose.

Combat Troops

200

This "theory" helps explain why Vietnam became a key battleground in the Cold War.

Domino Theory

300

Executive orders are an example of this type of presidential power.

Unilateral Action

300

This intervention set the precedent for post-Cold War military action.

The Gulf War

300

His doctrine aimed to shed constraints and use US strength to preempt future threats.

Bush (George W.)

300

Some US alliances include this commitment that the US would use its nuclear weapons to respond if the ally is attacked.

Extended Deterrence

300

These two pieces made up the US narrative during the Cold War.

A narrative about "us" and a narrative about "them."
400

Operates based on cooption, not coercion.

Soft power

400

This order has its origins in the politics of Woodrow Wilson.

Liberal World Order (Liberal Internationalism)

400

His doctrine focused on using multilateralism to avoid free-riding.

Obama

400
This phrase describes the challenge of identifying the source of a cyberattack beyond a reasonable doubt.

The attribution problem

400

Sending the US military to help "get the food through" was a key justification for the intervention in this country.

Somalia

500

This foreign policy orientation prioritizes engagement and military strength.

Militant internationalism

500

The combination of deference to executive authority and overarching threat that fell apart during the Vietnam War.

Cold War Consensus

500

This group acts as a fire alarm to a rationally ignorant public.

Elites

500

This type of economic sanction is intended to harm macroeconomic stability and is mostly likely to work against democracies.

Comprehensive Sanctions

500

These words from this type of actor are the most influential elite cue.

Against-type cues from military officials.