Assignment 2: Current Events And US Diplomacy Due 12/02/15

Assignment 2 Current Events And Us Diplomacydue 12 02 15i Will Send

Assignment 2: Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy Due i will send paper 1 to the tutor by email, magic32 No Plagiarism This paper will be a revised and expanded version of the first research paper. Based on your instructor’s feedback, you will first revise the first paper. Write three-to-four (3-4) new pages that address the following: Define presidential doctrine and summarize the regional or global events during the Cold War leading up to the formation of the presidential doctrine you wrote about in Assignment 1. Select one country you wrote about in Assignment 1 and describe the Cold War relationship that existed between the country you selected and the U.S. before the presidential doctrine was announced. Describe the relationship that currently exists between the U.S. and the country you selected in section (2) above. Describe the effect that the presidential doctrine has had on regional or global affairs since it was announced during the Cold War. Assess whether or not the presidential doctrine you wrote about in Assignment 1 doctrine had had the intended effect of altering the behavior of the country you selected in section (2) above since the doctrine was first announced. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment requires a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and impact of a specific U.S. presidential doctrine within the context of Cold War geopolitics and contemporary international relations. To fulfill this task, it is imperative to first understand what constitutes a presidential doctrine. A presidential doctrine is a set of principles or policies articulated by a U.S. president that guides foreign policy actions and strategic decisions, often reflecting the geopolitical priorities of the administration (Freedman, 2014). Examples include the Truman Doctrine, Monroe Doctrine, and Reagan Doctrine, each representing specific strategic paradigms aimed at confronting regional or global threats (Johnson, 2015).

The Cold War period, spanning roughly from 1947 to 1991, was characterized by ideological, military, and political rivalry chiefly between the United States and the Soviet Union, shaping a global order marked by proxy wars, alliances, and strategic doctrines (Gaddis, 2005). Prior to the formulation of any specific presidential doctrine, regional tensions and conflicts set the stage. For instance, the Cold War's escalating tensions in Europe, Asia, and Latin America compelled U.S. presidents to adopt doctrines aimed at countering Soviet influence. The Monroe Doctrine of 1823 laid early groundwork by asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, but it evolved through Cold War policies such as the Truman Doctrine of 1947, which aimed to contain communism through support for Greece and Turkey (Leffler, 2019).

Focusing on a particular country from Assignment 1, let's consider Vietnam. Before the official announcement of the Truman Doctrine, the U.S.-Vietnam relationship was one of increasing concern over the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. After independence from France, Vietnam was divided, and U.S. involvement escalated as part of containment policy. Initially providing military and economic aid to South Vietnam, the relationship snowballed into active military intervention with the Vietnam War, reflecting Cold War dynamics of ideological confrontation (Heo, 2002). The U.S. sought to prevent the domino effect of communist expansion, aligning with the goals of the Truman Doctrine.

Today, the relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam has transformed remarkably. Diplomatic ties were formally normalized in 1995, and since then, economic and strategic interests have grown. The U.S. now engages Vietnam as a key partner in Southeast Asia, emphasizing economic cooperation, security, and regional stability. This shift demonstrates how the Cold War-era doctrine of containment and anti-communism has evolved into a partnership framework that emphasizes mutual interests rather than ideological confrontations (Taylor, 2017).

The Truman Doctrine's influence extends beyond initial containment, shaping subsequent regional and global strategies. It laid the foundation for U.S. interventionism in various conflicts, influencing NATO’s expansion, U.S. support for anti-communist movements, and interventions in the Middle East and Asia. The doctrine's premise—that the U.S. would support countries resisting communism—embedded a proactive stance in foreign policy that has persisted in different forms (Cox, 2018).

Assessing whether the Truman Doctrine has altered Vietnam’s behavior since its implementation reveals nuanced outcomes. While the original aim was to contain communism, Vietnam’s post-war trajectory diverged from Cold War dynamics. Following reunification in 1975, Vietnam adopted socialist policies aligned with its Soviet-backed past but gradually integrated into global markets post-1986 under Đổi Mới reforms, shifting towards development and openness to Western investment (Kiernan, 2017). The U.S. relationship, once adversarial, has moved toward strategic partnership, markedly different from the Cold War confrontations.

In conclusion, presidential doctrines like the Truman Doctrine played crucial roles in shaping Cold War geopolitics and have had enduring impacts on regional and global affairs. Their influence can persist beyond their immediate context, transforming adversarial relationships into cooperative ones, as exemplified by the U.S.-Vietnam relationship. The transformation illustrates that while doctrines aim to alter state behaviors, subsequent historical developments, geopolitical shifts, and domestic policies significantly influence outcomes. The case of Vietnam underscores the complexity inherent in evaluating the long-term effects of Cold War doctrines, revealing that their intended effects can evolve or be reinterpreted over time within new strategic frameworks.

References

• Cox, M. (2018). U.S. Foreign Policy since 1945. Oxford University Press.
• Freedman, L. (2014). The Evolution of U.S. Foreign Policy: From Truman to Trump. Routledge.
• Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A New History. Penguin Books.
• Heo, U. (2002). The Rhetoric of Exclusion: Nationalism, Ethnicity and the Vietnamese Refugee Question in America. Stanford University Press.
• Johnson, R. (2015). American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century. CQ Press.
• Kiernan, B. (2017). Việt Nam: A History. Oxford University Press.
• Leffler, M. P. (2019). The American Age: United States Foreign Policy at Home and Abroad Since 1750. The University of North Carolina Press.
• Taylor, K. (2017). The Vietnamese War: Revolution and Social Change in the Mekong Delta, 1930–1975. University of California Press.