Dr. Charles Doran, Professor of International Relations, titled his speech given on June 10th 2008 at the America House Munich “How Americans Choose - The most important Presidential Election in a Century”. Maybe – as we are still at the beginning of this century - this sounds somewhat exaggerated at first, but on a second look the upcoming presidential election in the United States indeed appears to be a unique and path-breaking event for the future
(…) As the topic of our seminar was “America and the world”, this term paper will focus on the nominees' foreign policy perspectives, which show surprisingly few differences but many similarities.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Foreign Policy Perspectives by Comparison
- On Environment & Natural Resources
- On Future Diplomacy
- On Relationship to…
- ...International Organisations (Ingo’s, NGO´s, UN, G8)
- …Russia
- …China
- …Europe (Transatlantic Relations)
- …Cuba and on Guantanamo
- …Africa
- …The Middle East:
- Iraq
- Iran
- Israel
- Afghanistan and Pakistan
- On Terrorism
- Military Plans
- Personal Opinion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper analyzes the foreign policy perspectives of Senators John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Barack Obama during the 2008 US Presidential election. The objective is to compare and contrast their viewpoints, highlighting both their differences in emphasis and similarities in overall outlook, focusing primarily on the candidates' foreign policy positions.
- Comparison of the candidates' approaches to environmental issues and energy independence.
- Analysis of their preferred diplomatic styles and approaches to international relations.
- Examination of their stances on key geopolitical relationships, including those with Russia, China, and European nations.
- Assessment of their views on the conflicts in the Middle East, particularly Iraq, Iran, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Evaluation of their strategies for combating terrorism.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The Introduction sets the stage by highlighting the dissatisfaction with the Bush administration and the significant implications of the 2008 election. The section on Foreign Policy Perspectives by Comparison delves into various aspects of the candidates' foreign policy platforms. Each sub-section analyzes their positions on specific topics, such as environmental policy, diplomatic strategies, and relationships with key countries and regions. The section on Environmental Policy shows a surprising convergence of opinion across party lines regarding climate change and energy independence, despite differences in approach to nuclear power. The sections on Future Diplomacy and relationships with specific countries and regions (International Organizations, Russia, China, Europe, Cuba, Africa, and the Middle East) details the candidates’ views on various issues, noting both points of agreement and disagreement. The chapter on Terrorism examines the candidates' strategies for combating terrorism, focusing on their prioritization of regions and strategies. The final section included here is Military Plans, which explores the candidates’ approaches to military spending and modernization.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
US foreign policy, 2008 Presidential election, John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, international relations, multilateralism, unilateralism, environmental policy, energy independence, Russia, China, Europe, Middle East, Iraq War, Iran nuclear program, terrorism, military strategy, Guantanamo Bay, NATO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the key foreign policy themes in the 2008 US election?
The main themes included the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, relationships with Russia and China, energy independence, climate change, and the fight against global terrorism.
How did Obama, Clinton, and McCain differ on the Iraq War?
While Obama emphasized a phased withdrawal, McCain supported the "surge" and a continued military presence. Clinton's position was seen as a middle ground, favoring a responsible end to the war.
What were the candidates' views on climate change and energy?
Surprisingly, all three candidates acknowledged the importance of addressing climate change and achieving energy independence, though they differed on the role of nuclear power and specific regulatory measures.
What was the candidates' stance on diplomacy with Iran?
Obama was open to direct diplomatic engagement without preconditions, while McCain and Clinton were more cautious, emphasizing the need for multilateral pressure and sanctions.
How did the candidates view transatlantic relations with Europe?
All candidates sought to repair the strained relations caused by the Bush administration's unilateralism, emphasizing the importance of NATO and cooperation on global security issues.
- Quote paper
- Bernadette-Julia Felsch (Author), 2008, The differing foreign policy perspectives of Senators John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/124413
