Isolationism

Definition

Isolationism is a foreign policy strategy in which a country seeks to avoid involvement with other nations' affairs, often by limiting or avoiding political, economic, and military entanglements. It is a approach that prioritizes national self-interest and independence over global cooperation and interdependence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Isolationism seeks to minimize a country's political, economic, and military involvement with other nations, often through policies like trade barriers and restrictions on foreign alliances.
2. A key driver of isolationism is the belief that entanglement in global affairs compromises a nation's sovereignty and autonomy.
3. Isolationism was a dominant foreign policy approach for the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exemplified by policies like the Monroe Doctrine.
4. Critics of isolationism argue that it can leave a country vulnerable to external threats and limit its ability to shape global events to its advantage.
5. The rise of globalization and interdependence in the modern era has made pure isolationism increasingly difficult for most nations to maintain.

Review Questions

• How does isolationism relate to the definition of foreign policy?
  • Isolationism is a specific approach to foreign policy that prioritizes a country's national self-interest and independence over active engagement and cooperation with other nations. It reflects a desire to limit political, economic, and military entanglements with the outside world, in contrast to more interventionist or multilateral foreign policy strategies.
• Explain how isolationism relates to the foreign policy instruments a country may employ.
  • Isolationist foreign policies often utilize instruments like trade barriers, restrictions on foreign alliances and treaties, and limits on military interventions abroad. These tools are intended to insulate the country from external influences and maintain its autonomy. In contrast, more engaged foreign policies may rely on diplomatic negotiations, economic sanctions, or military force projection as key instruments to shape global affairs.
• Evaluate how the institutional relationships between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches might be affected by an isolationist approach to foreign policy.
  • An isolationist foreign policy can alter the balance of power and decision-making processes between the branches of government. The executive branch may seek to consolidate more authority over foreign affairs to implement unilateral policies, while the legislative branch may attempt to constrain the president's ability to make international commitments. The judicial branch may also be called upon to interpret the boundaries of executive and legislative power in the realm of foreign relations. These institutional tensions can arise as the government navigates the tradeoffs between national sovereignty and global engagement.

Related terms

Unilateralism: A foreign policy approach where a country acts independently without the consultation or participation of other nations.

Nationalism: The belief in and promotion of one's own nation's interests and culture over those of other nations.

Protectionism: An economic policy of restricting or regulating trade between nations in order to protect domestic industries and jobs.