GOV 312L U.S. First Midterm Study GuideTuesday, September 2 nd : Foreign Policy and National Interest News: 1. In the crisis over Ukraine, why is Russia in a much better situation than the U.S. and the west? What advantages does Russia possess?● Russia doesn’t have a timeline, they can be patient. ● Russia is in a better situation because America’s abilities (military enforcement, and economic sanctions) are less than effective or possible. ● Russia is also geographically closer which allows them to be more responsive in numerous contexts, especially regarding military action. ● Russia is arguing on a nationalist stance, saying that Russian ethnics in Ukraine should be“free” and not “oppressed.” ● Russia is able to play the propaganda game. ● Flexing military. Russia has advantage of nuclear deterrence. Additionally, Russia is more militarily powerful than Ukraine. 2. What impact does Ukraine’s non-membership in NATO have on the crisis? How does the geopolitical situation in Ukraine resemble that of Estonia and Latvia (both NATO members)?● Ukraine is not a member of NATO, so it will not receive military treatment from the US.● Geographically, Estonia, Ukraine and Latvia are all within Russia’s “sphere of influence” and were former members of the Soviet Union. As a result, Russia has a high amount of political and military pressure in the area. 3. How does nuclear deterrence work in Russia’s favor in this crisis?● Russia has a lot of nuclear weapons and there is a very real threat that if US gets their military involved a nuclear war will begin. This works in Russia's favor because they know we don’t want to enter into a nuclear war. ● Russia also stated that they would retaliate with nuclear weapons if they perceived a threat from the US or the west● aka Mutually Assured Destruction 4. How does the press misinterpret President Obama’s statement about “not having a strategy” tocombat the ISIS threat?● This was taken out of context by Republicans – Full Context: what should the US strategy be in response to ISIS in Syria? If the US attacks ISIS in Syria, could this simultaneously strengthen Assad? Conflation of a very narrow question.● Obama is not referring to his grand strategy, but is rather speaking about not having a policy formed yet to deal with ISIS in the Middle East – Obama emphasized there must be a military and a political component, the political component is navigating conflicting interests and conflicting groups within the Middle East. ● and if we react militarily, this may help Assad. 5. What is the interrelationship between the threat from ISIS and other potential threats to U.S. interests such as the Assad regime and Iran? How does this complicate the military and 1diplomatic strategy to combat the threat from ISIS? How have congressional Republicans taken advantage of this situation to criticize the president through the media? ● The US deems ISIS to be a key national security threat to the region. However, if the US responds militarily this could help some groups we don’t want to help, like Assad, because they also do not cooperate with ISIS. Even Al Qaeda believes ISIS is too radical.● they take advantage of this because they want to shift public opinion; they are influencingdecisions that Obama did not want to make (conventional wisdom)? ● Hezbollah receives support from Iran and Assad’s regime in Syria, so pushing against ISIS could simultaneously strengthen Hezbollah in the regionLecture/readings: 1. What is foreign policy? What are the aspects of foreign policy? What are its targets? What is it designed to influence?- actions and statements of the US federal government directed toward some foreign audience● Foreign policy consists of the strategies chosen by the state considering interactions with foreign countries. ○ if two states share the same political interests then they can work together to achieve their interest since no conflict exists. ● influences: beliefs, capabilities, interests and behavior or actions of a foreign audience○ it is essentially trying to influence other governments to reshape their behavior based on the expectation that international politics may have of them. ● Targets (foreign audience): other governments, international organizations, non-state actors (citizens) ● ● Director of National Intelligence- ● Emporer of FOPO Homeland, 2. What are the main foreign policy actors within the executive branch? What are the mainresponsibilities of each foreign policy department within the executive branch? 3. What is the national interest? What are the arenas in which the U.S. has important national interests? What dimensions help to determine preferences over outcomes?● National interest: Where the my homies at?● Failure is an option● “They trying to suspend me? Ok. Lemme just go ahead and put on this show real quick. # HEI5MAN”- Jameis Winston2● Dimensions: ○ The level of analysis - states, bureaucracies, who are we trying to reach○ content of preferences - material (military or economic) vs ideational ○ institutions aggregating preferences.● Politicians often don’t concretely define the content of the national interest 4. What are the five frameworks for approaching practical ethics? What are the principal metrics by which each framework deems a decision to be ethical?● utilitarianism: (think Ozymandias)○ approach by weighting the most harm vs. the most benefits○ Which alternative maximizes the most good for the greatest number?● rights: respecting rights of individuals regardless of the cost (never focuses on number of people)● fairness: fair treatment for all victims ● common good: interconnected nature of the individual and society. Advances common good of the entire community.● virtue: make ethical decisions to cultivate ethical habits ● Ethically PROHIBITED- moral code would bar people from doing○ EX: murder, theft, violence toward another person● Ethically Permissible ○ Ethically REQUIRED- bare minimum that is required of individuals to be moral. ■ EX: as father morally required to take care of kid (feed, clothes, shelter)○ Ethically PERMITTED- vast zone between what’s minimally required and what isideal. You could do it but you should not do it. ■ EX: Not masturbating on a plane. Considered Highly frowned upon ■ doing customer service for Comcast.○ Ethically