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Bush Doctrine
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Asserts the right of the US to act unilaterally. Stakes the right to unilateral and pre-emptive military action against terrorism, or "when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives".
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Containment Policy
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U.S. foreign policy designed to resist the spread of communism and Soviet expansion. Originated in a foreign policy document penned by US diplomat George Kennan. Over time, the theory went, communist systems would implode, and the correct foriegn policy would be one that at least prevents it from spreadaing while the capitalist nations waited it out. It took nearly 8 decades, but it proved itsefl out. Adherents of containment later included Dean Acheson (US Secretary of State under Truman) and John Foster Dulles (US Secretary of State under Eisenhower).
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Domino Theory
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A Cold War concept that postulated that if one strategic nation falls to Communism, subsequent neighboring countries would also collabse like a series of tumbling dominoes.
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Eisenhower Doctrine
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A program for limiting Soviet influence in the Middle East. It basically provided economic aid and military assistance to those Middle East countries that publically disavowed communism. It went beyond containing direct Soviet influence by authorizing the use of U.S. forces "to secure and protect the territorial integrity and political independence of such nations, requesting such aid against overt armed aggression from any nation controlled by international communism."
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Exptionalism
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The belief in the exceptional nature of a country as a justification for spreading its influence. US exceptionalism is the belief that American values are universal. At times, exceptionalism manifested itself as a notion of responsibility of the US to spread its values of democracy abroad.
Wilsonianism, for example, is an exceptionalist way of thought, believing that the US is "possessed of an exceptional nature expressed in unrivaled virtue and unrivaled power" and that it is worth "fighting for its values on a worldwide basis".
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Idealism
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Monroe Doctrine
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The foreign policy of President Monroe. Proclaimed in 1823, it stated that European nations cannot meddle in American affairs. By "American affairs", Monroe was not restricting the scope to the U.S., as the doctrine covered the entire Western Hemisphere. Monroe was basically warning European powers that the US would go to war to protect the Western Hemisphere from any influence of European power.
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Nixon Docrtine
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Spelled out during the Vietnam conflict, the Nixon Doctrine states that:
First, the United States will keep all of its treaty commitments.
Second, we shall provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens the freedom of a nation allied with us or of a nation whose survival we consider vital to our security.
Third, in cases involving other types of aggression, we shall furnish military and economic assistance when requested in accordance with our treaty commitments. But we shall look to the nation directly threatened to assume the primary responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense.
This was created in response to the US finding itself in a situation where it was already over-extended in Vietnam, yet had no reasonable and safe way to abdicate.
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Obama Doctrine
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National security policy grounded in international cooperation. Sees success by steering currents of cooperation "in the direction of liberty and justice - so nations thrive by meeting their responsibilities and face consequences when they don't".
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Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
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A multi-national effort to halt nuclear-weapons trafficking
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raison d'etat
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Realpolitik
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Diplomacy based primarily on national interest and political realities, rather than ideological notions or morals (Idealism). Power politics, or the unrestrained balance-of-power.
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Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
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An agreement that defines the legal status of U.S. personnel and property in another state. The purpose of a SOFA is to spell out the "rights and responsibilities between the United States and the host government on such matters as criminal and civil jurisdiction, the wearing of the uniform, the carrying of arms, tax and customs relief, entry and exit of personnel and property, and resolving damage claims". 1
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