Foreign policy is the way in which a country or government acts in the world. It includes a wide range of activities, from the creation of diplomatic relations to international military interventions. It can also include the development of economic policies, such as negotiating trade agreements and promoting foreign investment. It can also address issues related to national security, including military alliances, arms control, and peacekeeping operations.
The United States’s current foreign policy has been shaped by the successes of American leadership in the Cold War and subsequent efforts to construct, for the first time in history, a peaceful and united Europe. It now faces new challenges—including the potential reordering of Eurasia through US-China competition, humanitarian crises that are exacerbated by climate change and propelled by autocratic governments; the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorist threats against the United States, its allies, and its partners in the world; and new technologies that can amplify the impact of these challenges and create entirely new ones.
Throughout the Great Decisions program, leaders learn about these and other pressing global issues from experts in the field. They then discuss them with colleagues in their own communities using the Great Decisions briefing book and DVD series, facilitated by trained facilitators. For additional learning resources and to find a discussion group near you, visit the Great Decisions website. To learn more about the latest developments in world affairs, follow the links below.