Ideology and Foreign Policy: Case Study of US

Abstract

Ideology is an element of national power and determinant of foreign policy. Foreign policy enables a state to establish its relations beyond the borders. A state formulates its foreign policy to cater its multiplicity of interests. It is possible by building strong and cordial relations with the international community. Ideology assumes key position in the formulation of foreign policy making and interacting with other states. As the former super power and major power in prevailing situation in the world, ideology has played a key role in foreign policy formulation of the United States. Main ideology they used to change their foreign policy behavior and influence into other countries was democracy. Democracy and respect for human rights have long been central components of US foreign policy. Several leaders of the US practiced foreign policy by using democracy as their ideology in different perspectives. Former US Presidents Theodor Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D Roosevelt, Harry Truman and George W Bush have taken democracy as their ideological tool to change US foreign policy. This study find out how ideology can be used as a tool to change the US foreign policy formulation. With analysis the case study of USA. The research consist of the interpretation of ideology and foreign policy, ideology as a tool of foreign policy, US foreign policy under several leaders. Study has used secondary resources such as Journal articles, newspaper articles, books, Presidents’ annual statements, web sources to collect data. Thus study is a content analysis. The results identify that, ideology has been highly influential to change the foreign policy formulation of a nation.