What is the foreign policy of the United States?

The characteristics of American foreign policy are not static, and often reflect contradictions, hesitation and superiority. With the passage of time, three political thoughts have dominated and influenced American political strategy-liberal idealism, realism and isolationism. These thoughts are deeply rooted in American political culture and will be mentioned again in a certain era. It is difficult to clearly distinguish which political thoughts have greater influence on American political and diplomatic activities, because these three thoughts often affect the American government at the same time. The goal pursued by American foreign policy is very realistic and practical, but it is often packaged and whitewashed as an idealistic feature. Therefore, people habitually analyze the political thought and ideology behind American foreign policy only at the academic level.

After the end of the cold war, the United States proposed a new world order, but at this time they were faced with a confused and impetuous new world. The United States tried to handle international affairs as a manager and manage the country as a monarch, because the United States was the only superpower in the world at that time. This view appeared in the speech of former US Foreign Secretary madeleine albright. Albright once said, "Except the United States, all countries are of low value. Compared with other countries, the United States will see farther and better, and it is the only country that can judge the future. The United States is irreplaceable, and other countries cannot apply its methods. " Albright's view represents American policy, but this idea has plunged the United States into a political and economic quagmire.

On the one hand, the United States has constantly advocated idealism in history, on the other hand, it has always maintained the realistic goal of establishing a hegemonic country.