History American Foreign Relations

Question: Discuss about theHistoryfor American Foreign Relations. Answer: Introduction Since times immemorial, it has often been seen that want of supremacy over the other has always excited human attempts to make one more powerful. Centuries back historians have stated how Aryans was the race that believes in defeating other powers to make them more powerful. A similar such belief has been found to harbor among the great power of the world. Different nations have always tried to achieve more power, militarily, geographically and economically that would assure them to be safe from attacks of other countries and keep the other countries under control so that they cannot attack back. These have often leaded to many power struggles and loss of lives but this belief of anarchy has often ruled the heart of the powerful nations. A number of objectives can be noted in order to explain why the greater powers required more power to stabilize them. Besides surviving, one of the main motive that urges them for more power is regional hegemony and in turn global hegemony. Nations believe by regional and global hegemony they can make their nation safer and enjoy a very prestigious position in international politics. Regional hegemons ensure that the nations they are dominating would not have the scope to challenge their interests which otherwise might be different if they were free nations. Often this attitude of the nations increases for more power gradually expanding their power and strength to overseas (Daniels, 2012). The Spanish-American-Cuban-Filipino War in 1898 was based on similar such mentality of the United States. After declaring a war on the Spain, they defeated and crushed the Empire even destroying the fleet that remained there in Santiago harbor in Cuba. Definite strategies were put forward by US which helped them to win the war. The main motive behind the war was to capture the grip on the Caribbean that not only helped to build a naval base in the Caribbean but also to annex Puerto Rico (Paterson et al., 2014). This victory also ensured USs extension in the influences in the the Pacific through annexation of two important nations of Philippines and Guam. By this attempt, they clearly stated to the world that the new navy has power enough to deter opportunistic states that would help to protect US interests across both oceans. Basically it helped their own nation in terms of influence, trade and security. Another objective that the great powers possess in order to increase the power is the economic stability that would help them to be victorious nation even if they face different political issues or economic crisis or even preparing a vast military when attacked or pressurized by other nations (Rivoli, 2014). The British kingdom has tried to expand its power to different south East Asian countries and different countries of Africa for colonization in the areas. Although they began with overseas possessions and trading posts by England, their main aim was to make their own country economically prospering. British held sway over 412 million people in the year 1913 that accounted for about 23 % of the world population and became the foremost power globally. Their colonizing rule covered such a large area of that it was said by the historians to be the empire where sun never sets mainly because of its vast expansion (Viswanathan, 2014). They mainly exploited the nations where they colonized and the entire economy of the nations was utilized within their own country thereby making Britain financially prosperous. Strategized trade policies, Investment of British capital in the indigenous consumer goods, various financial transactions of the colonized nations through malpractices, financing wars , expeditions and even the maintenance of the armies drained money from the nation and made Britain more powerful. In the urge for more powers, they have often exploited a large number of nations to make themselves stable and safe. Researchers have noted that in the 1800s, China along with facing various internal conflicts also faced pressure from Western imperialism. The latter possesses a military power that the China could have never matched. Similar exploitation also took place in China, which converted Chinas image, and position in the world from a successful efficient nation to a torn civilization within just a few years period from 1840 (Duus, Myers Peattie, 2014). Experiencing dominancy over China made the West secured and safe at the expense of the complete economic outflow of China. Japan taking this opportunity of China being weakened declared a war on china that continued from 1894 to 1895 over the possession of South Korea thereby making Japan a supreme power in East Asia (Mares, 2012). This resulted in greater economy that benefited Japan largely at the cost of economic and militar y drain of China. Hence, it can be seen that it was a growing practice in the era of 1790 to 1920 and within this era great powers were seen to compete among themselves for the thirst of more powers due to military or economic benefits often defeating other nations at the cost of lives and economic drain. However History has seen similar evidences even before the mentioned era and is even now continues but more diplomatically. References: Daniels, R. (2012).Asian America: Chinese and Japanese in the United States since 1850. University of Washington Press. Duus, P., Myers, R. H., Peattie, M. R. (Eds.). (2014).The Japanese informal empire in China, 1895-1937. Princeton University Press. Mares, D. R. (2012). Middle powers under regional hegemony: To challenge or acquiesce in hegemonic enforcement.International Studies Quarterly,32(4), 453-471. Paterson, T., Clifford, J. G., Brigham, R., Donoghue, M., Hagan, K. (2014).American Foreign Relations: Volume 2: Since 1895(Vol. 2). Cengage Learning. Rivoli, P. (2014).The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade. New Preface and Epilogue with Updates on Economic Issues and Main Characters. John Wiley Sons. Viswanathan, G. (2014).Masks of conquest: Literary study and British rule in India. Columbia University Press.