Foreign policy is the collection of strategies that a country uses to shape its relationships with other countries, in accordance with its national security and economic interests, and democratic values. It is complex, interdependent and dynamic. It involves multiple branches of government, and a wide range of domestic and international issues and actors.
The Constitution grants power over foreign policy to the President, with checks and balances in place to limit his or her powers. In practice, Congress shapes the manner and degree to which U.S. government policy strives to achieve democracy and human rights abroad through enacted statutory provisions, budget allocations, and associated diplomatic and policy tools.
In the past, some politicians advocated isolationism or neutrality — models that would leave a state with few commitments to other nations including treaties and trade agreements, while reserving the right to become belligerent in response to external threats. However, in a global economy, most states have departed from isolationism and moved closer to cooperation as allies and partners.
While the United States has a rich legacy of supporting democracy and human rights in the world, there are significant challenges in the field. These include growing global repression by authoritarian governments, the incremental form of “democratic backsliding” and civil society and media suppression in many countries, cross-national repression – where repression from one country extends into other countries – and technological developments. For these reasons, some Americans are skeptical that focusing on democracy and human rights is a good strategic investment at a time when the United States faces pressing domestic concerns.
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