The Relationship Between President Obama's Foreign Policy Decision Making, Public Opinion, and International Pressure: Guantanamo Bay, Intervention in Libya, and the Drone Program
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
97
Start Date
4-5-2017 9:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2017 9:15 AM
Department
Political Science
Abstract
Focusing on President Obama’s first term, this research analyzes what influenced President Obama's administration’s foreign policy decisions. Robert Putnam’s “Two Level game theory” is utilized in this study to understand what caused the administration to act, and how domestic or international influences persuaded these decisions. It is hypothesized that public opinion was not a factor in this process. This study evaluates three separate cases: the “closing” of Guantanamo Bay, the United States’ intervention in Libya, and the continuation of the drone program. Throughout each case, variables are examined including: arguments made by President Obama as to why the policies were implemented, arguments for the United States’ involvement from other countries, arguments made by political opponents as to why the policies were potentially a mistake, and statistics gathered from public opinion polls. Findings support the hypothesis that public opinion did not play any major role in President Obama’s foreign policy decision-making process. The idea that the United States plays the role as the “anchor of global security” makes the U.S. government feel compelled to uphold and remain dominant in international policy; therefore, international pressures are responsible for the United States’ action in international events.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. David Richards, Dr. Marek Payerhin
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The Relationship Between President Obama's Foreign Policy Decision Making, Public Opinion, and International Pressure: Guantanamo Bay, Intervention in Libya, and the Drone Program
Focusing on President Obama’s first term, this research analyzes what influenced President Obama's administration’s foreign policy decisions. Robert Putnam’s “Two Level game theory” is utilized in this study to understand what caused the administration to act, and how domestic or international influences persuaded these decisions. It is hypothesized that public opinion was not a factor in this process. This study evaluates three separate cases: the “closing” of Guantanamo Bay, the United States’ intervention in Libya, and the continuation of the drone program. Throughout each case, variables are examined including: arguments made by President Obama as to why the policies were implemented, arguments for the United States’ involvement from other countries, arguments made by political opponents as to why the policies were potentially a mistake, and statistics gathered from public opinion polls. Findings support the hypothesis that public opinion did not play any major role in President Obama’s foreign policy decision-making process. The idea that the United States plays the role as the “anchor of global security” makes the U.S. government feel compelled to uphold and remain dominant in international policy; therefore, international pressures are responsible for the United States’ action in international events.