Understanding the Reagan Doctrine, Research Paper Example

Introduction

In creating policies for the nation, presidents of the United States create their own rules and directives to make sure that they are able to give attention to what the nation needs at the moment. Relatively, such attention includes determining the security of the nation as it faces several points of international turmoil. Starting from the year 1823 under the administration of James Monroe, the creation of such policies serve as the real value of what the presidents were particularly caring for and what they are aiming to complete for the nation’s betterment.

During the time of President Raegan, the Raegan policy has been given birth. This policy basically gives attention to how the American nation protects its territories including that of its colonies in facing the international pressure from the ongoing Cold War at the time. Following Carter’s policy which indicated the support that the American government gives to the Afghan administration with the provision of ample military assistance (Burke, et al, 2003). This policy entails in determining the military strength of the American ally while significantly pushing the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan away; as if cleaning or clearing their path of control.  The policy of Raegan to support the fight of the Afghan army further earned him praises from the Afghan force and government as they create massive efforts in determining the power of the smaller nation against the stronger and more complex military strategies of Soviet Union (Burke, et al, 2003).

The Raegan Doctrine

Leveraging the position of the American army against that of the Soviet force was the strategy that Raegan took into account in pursuing these different concepts of national protection that the nation hopes to establish in Afghanistan. Following the tradition of liberal internationalism, this policy by President Raegan created an image of the American nation as the protector of all other nations. Hoping to give them the peace and security they need from foreign oppressors, the American government, under Raegan, served as the picture of a heroic group of armies that entail to protect the rights of the smaller ones towards experiencing the excellent benefits of liberalism and national freedom (Meiertöns, 2010). Through implicating such approach with the indicative realization of the providing the material interests such as the military force and the military arms the nations give, this policy also give sense to empowering the capacity of the nation being helped to establish their own form of protection, to create their own strategies towards managing their military force and military resources, and to make a name of their own that they could use to face their own wars  in a more diplomatic approach, may it be local or international in nature.

What has this policy accomplished so far? As part of the successful results that came from this policy is the fact that it has set a foundation for the development of more complex and more determinable concepts of polices that America is most likely known for at present. With many nations undergoing particular chaotic situations at present (e.g. Israel), the American government continues to take on the option of developing their international connections and making sure that those who cling to their assistance get the necessary attention they need (Grandin, 2007). Following the concept of liberal nationalism, the Raegan policy is able to create a connection that serves as the link that the American government has with others that establishes their overall strength and control over international relationships.

Strength of Application in Different Cases

After the application of the policy during the Cold War Era, Raegan’s policy became more popular among several socialist groups and have become a source of international strategies used by the nation in facing different issues of war and conflict among the countries America hopes to protect. Relatively, the same policy was applied in dealing with the Angolan and the Nicaraguan conflicts. Through the help of the Heritage Foundation, the realization of this particular policy’s worth is rather effective especially in seeing how international camaraderie helps in determining the developmental procedures that different nations are taking into account especially when they get involved in conflicts that tend to hinder such advancements (Grandin, 2010). In return, both the Angolan and the Nicaraguan governments presented praise to the American efforts of helping them out in resolving their international issues, as if setting their path back into the option of embracing national growth. In Cambodia, the picture is almost similar in nature. For instance, Raegan provided help to the small resistance movement in the nation knotted as the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front or KPNLF (Meiertöns, 2010). This small contingency of military force intended to put an end to the Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia. The involvement of the Vietnamese occupation in Cambodia made it possible for the emergence of communism in the country possible. However, with the aid of the American army, throwing over the communist party ruling the Cambodian society became easier to accomplish. Mixed with local ingenuity of the Cambodians and the complex strategies of the American army, the fight was rather complex and yet was evidently effective in making sure that the original mission was completed accordingly.

Considering the many accomplishments of the American nation because of the application of the Raegan Policy, there are those that consider the said approach more of a waste of resources rather than a source of improved international strength in relation to how the American government manages its power and its military resources. Considerably, some critics of the said policy impose that the policy did more damage than it did any good to the reputation of the United States as it serves its role in the international scene. While this has worth and value in making a distinctive mark of the American nation as a mere force that inserts itself and its power in international conflicts, it cannot be denied that the movements of the administrations that apply the Raegan Policy create a distinct investment in the way they make sure that their allies are well protected from supposed enemies (Morrison, 1997). Protecting the lives of the local residents of the said nations, the American force seems to be among the most effective power that could turn over ‘international bullies’ who feel compelled to put use their force in oppressing others. Nevertheless, tainting the mission and the desires of the American nation as it handles international conflicts cannot be avoided fully. With liberal internationalism carried into account, creating connections and mandating control of the other nations the country wants to be in ally with would always be bombarded by criticisms while it is being praised for its effectiveness in bringing back peace and security and establishing protection to affected nations.

Conclusion

When it comes to supporting its allies, the American nation continues to utilize its resources, both financial and human in making sure that the protective needs of the people are well attended to. Following the Raegan Doctrine, several American administrators stand strong in assuming their position in being the hero, the protector of national allies. The chaotic situations of these nations are expected to be lessened down while saving hundreds of lives of those residing in such areas through the aid of the American force. Considerably, with full control of the situation, the American government and its army takes a course of determining the condition of the duties they hope to fulfill for the sake of the people’s safety. In the long run, the investment of money and human force into the system pays back as a huge contained element of alliance that the American nation could use for protection as well. The reciprocation of values among nations, being the primary concept that liberal internationalism promotes, is what the Raegan Doctrine is most likely known for.

Overall, it could be realized through this discussion that the American government would do what it could to make sure that it is able to protect its connections, no matter what the primary reason may be. Practically, the concept of seeing its allies as its primary course of investment for the creation of a better future for its nation and its people is what the American government is most likely depending upon. Up to the current years, this concept of international relations continue to empower the American government as it embraces a good sense of directly determining its position as the provider of international camaraderie among nations. Setting peace through making sure that the values of human rights becomes the primary point of realizing the development of each nation, America serves as the epitome of true freedom and liberty; one that the nation is most likely known for.

The principles of international camaraderie continues to envelope the world as the nations realize the concept of liberal internationalism as a major course of development especially in line with the idea of creating a unified world that is dedicated to commercial and economic freedom. America, being one of the most powerful nations in the world, takes courage and takes into account the importance of extensive improvement of international relations; something that extends its course of investing into what the future might be able to bring in as benefit for it grow further and develop fully as a well-defined protector of the ones undergoing tumultuous situations at present.

References

Meiertöns, Heiko (2010). The Doctrines of US Security Policy: An Evaluation under International Law. Cambridge University Press.

Burke, Al-Qaeda (Penguin, 2003), p59; Steve Coll, Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden (Penguin, 2004), p87; Peter Bergen, The Osama bin Laden I Know (Free Press, 2006), pp60-1; Christopher Andrew and Vasili Mitrokhin, The Mitrokhin Archive II: The KGB and the World (Penguin, 2006), p579n48.

Grandin, Greg. Empire’s Workshop: Latin America, The United States and the Rise of the New Imperialism, Henry Holt & Company 2007, 89.

Morrison, Fred L. (January 1997). “Legal Issues in The Nicaragua Opinion“. American Journal of International Law 81 (1): 160–166.