The foreign policy moves made by the new presidential administration are shifting long-held assumptions and practices. Are we charging toward a new world order?
Benjamin Radd, a political scientist and senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center of International Relations, shares how to interpret recent news and policy changes:
How is Trump’s foreign policy such a departure from past administrations?
First and foremost, it is much like his domestic policy approach: norm-breaking. This includes everything and everyone from negotiating and bargaining tactics that are unconventional and unorthodox, dialogue with leaders and states that would otherwise be restrained or discouraged, and appointing officials and foreign policy representatives who lack the traditional foreign policy bona fides and experience.
The result is a diplomat(ic) shock-and-awe approach that verges on a variation of the “mad man theory” of international relations — you simply don’t know what you are going to get with Trump and his team. There are benefits and drawbacks to this approach, but what those are remains to be seen.
What are the political implications of Trump’s foreign policy?
Positives: Breaking a stagnant status quo in certain parts of the world that have failed to advance diplomatically (Middle East, possibly Ukraine); increasing pressure on regional allies to carry a greater burden of economic support, peacekeeping and deterrence; enhanced economic opportunity for the U.S. (trade agreements, access to minerals, tariff agreements).
Negatives: Alienating stalwart allies; emboldening or enabling potential enemies and rivals; introducing uncertainty into existing situations and relationships, which can result in costly efforts to stabilize in years to come; lack of transparency or clarification with both the American public and with allies; marginalization of Congress in the process; appearance of corruption, self-dealing or grift.
What should the general public understand about current U.S. foreign policy?
At a minimum, it reflects a dynamic shift from how “business is done” during prior administrations, and that some decisions under this new administration may not bear results for years, if at all.
What is not being written about in regard to U.S. foreign policy?
I feel that not enough attention has been paid, especially by investigative journalists, to what possible collusion or corruption may be beneath the surface and would help explain some of Trump’s more bizarre foreign policy positions (such as his recent criticisms of Ukraine or for (his comments seemingly suggesting) moving all Palestinians out of Gaza, permanently).
Radd lectures in law at the UCLA School of Law, and in global studies, international and area studies at the UCLA College.
In addition to the Burkle Center, he is also a senior fellow with the UCLA International Institute and a research fellow with the UCLA Center for Middle East Development.
