Before Submission And Really Starting The Doing

Before Submission And Before Really Starting On The Doing Of This Pap

Before submission and before really starting on the doing of this paper, please make use of the following links (if trouble with any link, try this—right click and "open in new window"; sometimes an item will flash to the top or bottom of your screen or go to a downloads folder): Instruction sheet for Assignment 3 with key details, writing guide for Assignment 3, template for Assignment 3, sources and tips for Assignment 3, and how to submit the assignment. Additionally, there is a video help resource related to the topic of America's confrontations during the Nuclear Age.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment requires an analytical academic paper examining America's role as a global superpower from World War II to the present, focusing on a chosen strategic concern and confrontation from either the Cold War or Post-Cold War period. The paper must utilize at least three credible sources, including the Schultz text and at least two from a specified list, to support the thematic analysis. The paper should demonstrate an understanding of key events and policies, contextualized within Cold War conflicts such as containment, the Domino Theory, or MAD, and Post-Cold War issues like terrorism, rogue states, or WMDs.

The paper should be formatted according to Strayer Writing Standards (SWS), with a cover page, five well-developed paragraphs in the body totaling 500-800 words, double-spaced, in a readable font (Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, or Courier in size 10-12), and one-inch margins. Citations and references must follow SWS, with both in-text citations and a sources list at the end. The assignment aims to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of U.S. international policy and its global confrontation strategies, analyzing how these shaped America's position as a superpower.

Paper For Above instruction

America's ascendancy to the status of a superpower following World War II significantly shaped the mechanisms of international confrontation and strategic policymaking. Central to this transformation was the Cold War period, characterized by ideological rivalry and nuclear arms race, with containment and the Domino Theory at its core. Post-Cold War, new challenges such as terrorism and WMD proliferation emerged, requiring adaptive strategies. This paper examines one strategic concern and confrontation from each period to explore how U.S. foreign policy evolved and how these confrontations reflect broader strategic concerns of American policymakers.

Introduction

The United States' rise to superpower status was accompanied by a sustained engagement in confrontational diplomacy and strategic policy-making. During the Cold War, the primary strategic concern was containment of communism, exemplified by confrontations such as the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. After 1991, the focus shifted to combating terrorism, rogue states, and WMD, as reflected in conflicts like the Gulf War and the Iraq invasion. Analyzing specific confrontations within these strategic paradigms reveals the evolution of American foreign policy and its underlying strategic concerns.

Cold War Strategic Concern: Containment

Containment was the cornerstone of U.S. Cold War policy, aiming to prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing borders. The Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) exemplifies this strategy by responding to Soviet blockade of West Berlin, signifying a direct effort to uphold free Western influence. The U.S. orchestrated extensive logistical operations to supply the city, effectively countering Soviet attempts to divide Germany and expand communist control in Europe (Gaddis, 2005). Containment was rooted in the belief that Soviet expansionist policies threatened Western democracies and global stability, prompting military and economic measures aimed at curbing communism's spread.

Post-Cold War Strategic Concern: WMD

In the post-Cold War era, WMD proliferation became a central strategic concern, leading the U.S. to intervene militarily in Iraq (2003) under claims of threats posed by Saddam Hussein's regime. The Bush administration argued that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction that could be used by terrorists or against U.S. allies, challenging international security norms. The invasion was justified on grounds of preemptive strike policy, reflecting a shift from containment of state actors to preemptive action against WMD threats (Waltz, 2004). This confrontation illustrates how the U.S. adaptation of strategic concerns evolved to address new global security challenges introduced by WMD proliferation.

Discussion

The comparison of the Berlin Airlift and the Iraq invasion highlights different facets of U.S. strategic concerns. The Cold War encounter prioritized regional stability and ideological containment through coordinated defense and economic aid, emphasizing deterrence and alliance-building, exemplified by NATO. Conversely, the post-Cold War invasion of Iraq employed preemptive military action rooted in national security concerns about WMDs, reflecting a more aggressive posture influenced by the perceived threat of terrorism and rogue states (Krauthammer, 2002). The evolution signifies a shift from clear ideological confrontations to complex security threats involving non-state actors and clandestine WMD programs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the strategic concerns and confrontations faced by the United States from the Cold War to the present reveal an adaptive foreign policy responsive to global security realities. While containment aimed to curtail Soviet expansion and promote ideological stability, contemporary threats like WMD proliferation require more aggressive, preemptive strategies. Understanding these confrontations illuminates the broader trajectory of American leadership and security policy in shaping a global strategic environment. Future U.S. foreign policy will likely continue to evolve, integrating lessons from past confrontations to confront emerging threats on the global stage.

References

  • Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A New History. Penguin Books.
  • Krauthammer, C. (2002). The Unipolar Moment. Foreign Affairs, 77(2), 23-33.
  • Waltz, K. N. (2004). WMD and the Future of Power. Foreign Affairs, 83(4), 2-8.
  • Schultz, G. (Year). [Specific pages as per assignment].
  • Caplan, B. (2019). The Domino Theory Reconsidered. Foreign Policy.
  • Chace, S. (2015). The Cuban Missile Crisis: Leadership as Disturbance, Informed by History. Foreign Affairs.
  • Churchill, W. (1946). Iron Curtain Speech. Fulton College.
  • Dulles, J. F. (1954). Secretary Dulles’ Strategy of Massive Retaliation. Foreign Affairs.
  • McNamara, R. (2019). Why Did the US Enter the Vietnam War? History Today.
  • Robins-Early, N. (2015). Was the 2011 Libya Intervention a Mistake? HuffPost.

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