This paper’s thesis is that President Woodrow Wilson’s rational approach in the pursuit of idealistic foreign policy goals produced an indication among other factors of a failure of the mandate system and the system of collective security in the interwar years (1918-1938).
Maintaining world peace after the “war to end all wars” (Knock, 1992) can be regarded as the decisive message of US President Thomas Woodrow Wilson’s speeches on the “Peace without victory” on 22nd January 1917 in front of the Senate and on the “Fourteen Points for Peace” on 8th January 1918 in front of the Congress.
Fuelled by the post-war “excitement of the moment” (McNamara and Blight, 2001) and “feeling[s] of supreme optimism, moral conviction, and idealism” (McNamara and Blight, 2001), Wilson demanded the formation of the League of Nations, an institutional framework that would enforce democratic decision-making outcomes and guarantee the establishment and maintenance of a “peace without victory”.
The paper’s discussion of the United States foreign policy is conducted in two dimensions. The theoretical dimension will outline the concept of liberal internationalism and Wilsonian idealism by analyzing his speech of the 22nd January 1917 in front of the Senate and the 18th January 1918 in front of the Congress. It will further define the concept of Realpolitik that expresses ideas of rationality in foreign policy decision-making and present its boundaries and alternatives.
The practical dimension will apply the theoretical groundwork on two incidents: Administration and distribution of pre-war colonies and the idea of collective security.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Theoretical dimension
1. The “Peace without victory” and the “Fourteen Points of Peace”
2. Wilsonian idealism and liberal internationalism
3. Realpolitik and rationality in decision-making
4. Boundaries and alternatives to rationality
Practical dimension
5. From the mandate system to the annexation system
6. From collective security to collective punishment
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the failure of US President Woodrow Wilson’s idealistic foreign policy goals during the interwar years (1919-1938), arguing that his rational approach to complex international issues was fundamentally incompatible with the political realities of the era.
- The theoretical foundations of Wilsonian idealism and liberal internationalism.
- The clash between rational decision-making models (Realpolitik) and idealistic policy goals.
- The practical failure of the League of Nations and the mandate system.
- Alternative policy frameworks such as bounded rationality and incrementalism.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Realpolitik and rationality in decision-making
Prior to the First World War, the concept of Realpolitik, defined as “an approach to international relations based on practical self-interest rather than moral considerations” (Cannon, 2009) was dominant in Europe.
Realpolitik assumes rationality in decision-making (also known as rational choice, root method, rational comprehensive method and synoptic policymaking). Values or objectives are clarified distinct from the empirical analysis of alternative politics but often serve as a prerequisite for it (Lindblom, 1959: 86). Policy-formulation is therefore approached through means-ends analysis: First the ends are isolated and then the means to achieve them are identified (Lindblom, 1959: 86). Further, the testing of a “good” policy can be conducted by showing that it displays the most appropriate means to desired ends (Lindblom, 1959: 86). Accordingly, the analysis is very comprehensive, every important factor is taken into account and thus theory is heavily relied upon (Lindblom, 1959: 86).
Being perceived as an economic man rather than administrative man, rationality assumes states to be unitary and rational actors, making the best and most profitable decisions in their current situation (Parsons, 1995: 276). Accordingly, foreign policy making in Realpolitik is characterized by the forming of specific bilateral alliances and agreements (such as the German alliance with Austria-Hungary) for profit-maximization. However, liberal internationalism underlying the idealistic idea of collective security did not offer these specific agreements but because of the lack of extensive interpretation and consensus finding, rather vagueness.
However, this was complicated in a post-war time of conflict between the desire to punish the defeated nations and the willingness to establish permanent peace based on “equality and a common participation in a common benefit” (Clements, 1992: 164).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces Woodrow Wilson’s vision of world peace and establishes the thesis that his rational approach to idealistic goals contributed to the failure of interwar international security systems.
Theoretical dimension: An analysis of Wilson’s key speeches and the conceptual frameworks of liberal internationalism and Realpolitik in the context of foreign policy.
1. The “Peace without victory” and the “Fourteen Points of Peace”: This section explores Wilson’s specific proposals for a post-war order, highlighting his pursuit of equality, arms reduction, and self-determination.
2. Wilsonian idealism and liberal internationalism: This chapter defines the ideological motivations behind Wilson’s foreign policy, specifically the desire to export democratic values and spread liberal economic systems.
3. Realpolitik and rationality in decision-making: An examination of the rational choice model in international relations and why its focus on self-interest clashed with Wilson’s idealistic framework.
4. Boundaries and alternatives to rationality: This section introduces the concepts of bounded rationality and incrementalism as more realistic alternatives for complex foreign policy environments.
Practical dimension: An application of the previously established theories to specific post-war historical incidents involving international governance.
5. From the mandate system to the annexation system: This chapter analyzes how national interests and power politics undermined Wilson’s idealistic plans for the administration of German colonies.
6. From collective security to collective punishment: This section discusses the practical failure of the League of Nations to maintain peace, illustrated by the abandonment of Ethiopia in 1935.
Conclusion: The author concludes that Wilson’s failure resulted from attempting to implement broad, idealistic changes without the necessary behavioral shifts or incremental adjustments.
Keywords
Woodrow Wilson, Foreign Policy, Idealism, Realpolitik, Liberal Internationalism, League of Nations, Rationality, Bounded Rationality, Incrementalism, Collective Security, Mandate System, Decision-making, Interwar Period, Diplomacy, Self-determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research explores the failure of President Woodrow Wilson’s idealistic approach to US foreign policy during the interwar years, specifically examining the discrepancy between his high-minded goals and the practical realities of international relations.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The book covers political science, history of US foreign policy, decision-making theory, and international relations during the post-World War I era.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks how President Woodrow Wilson’s rational pursuit of idealistic goals contributed to the failure of the mandate system and the broader system of collective security during the interwar years.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes a theoretical analysis of political concepts combined with a historical evaluation of specific foreign policy incidents during the Paris Peace Conference and the early years of the League of Nations.
What topics are explored in the main body?
The main body treats the theoretical definitions of liberal internationalism and Realpolitik, the boundaries of human rationality in policy making, and the practical application of these theories to colonial distribution and the League of Nations' enforcement mechanisms.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Wilsonian idealism, Realpolitik, collective security, bounded rationality, and liberal internationalism.
How does the author define the "Council of Four"?
The author describes the Council of Four as a small group of leaders—Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Orlando—who dominated decision-making at the Paris Peace Conference, ultimately pushing aside idealistic goals in favor of national interests.
What role does the "mandate system" play in the author's argument?
The mandate system serves as a case study for the author to demonstrate how Wilson’s idealism was compromised by the necessity of reaching consensus among major powers, leading to a system that failed to prioritize the interests of native populations.
Why does the author suggest "muddling through" as an alternative?
The author proposes incrementalism (muddling through) as a more viable path, suggesting that smaller, step-by-step changes would have been more sustainable than the sudden, large-scale implementation of idealistic world order goals.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sarah Winkelmann (Autor:in), 2014, The Failure of Wilsonian Idealism in US Foreign Policy, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/309557
