US foreign policy in 21st century

Document from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: USA, Liverpool John Moores University, course: Governing people, language: English, abstract: The following report aims to answer the question as to whether the principles of US foreign policy have really changed in the 21st century. The discussion of the US foreign policy will be organised chronologically. First, the principles adopted by G.W. Bush's administration will be investigated while drawing comparisons to the previous administrations, notably Clinton's and George H.W. Bush's presidencies. Further, the approach adopted by the new administration led by Obama will be analysed and finally, conclusions will be drawn. The main part of the report will deal with national security issues, in particular, with problems associated with the Middle East, as this region has dominated US foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. However, the report will also shortly outline the US position with regards to the global economy and environmental issues. The 21st century certainly has seen several shifts in the US foreign policy principles, some more dramatic than others. Bush's and Obama's administrations, while both following similar goals in general, showed distinctive differences in the approaches to the foreign policy.