INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
United States Department of State

Defined by reference to the past, the post-cold war era has as its most significant attribute the absence of any immediate, vital threat to national security. The demise of the Soviet Union has left the United States as the preeminent world power and invested it with unparalleled leadership responsibilities. But the end of superpower competition also eliminated the unifying strategy for U.S. foreign policy. Now, in addition to regional security issues, an array of threatsweapons proliferation, terrorism, ethnic and religious conflict, organized crime, drug trafficking, and environmental degradation challenges U.S. interests and blurs the traditional dividing lines between domestic and foreign affairs.

Successful U.S. foreign policy depends on recognition of the conditions that are likely to prevail in this new and evolving international context. Six strategic assumptions about long-term global trends are an essential starting point for determining where, when, and how the United States is to engage in the world:

1. Multiple conflicts, crises, and threats--many of them transnational--rather than a single overriding challenge, will continue to emerge and may increase in frequency. While these may be small or localized in nature, they will frequently have potential for wider impact. These challenges will require determination, resources, and time to resolve.

2. New technologies, the information revolution, and economic growth have increased the rate of global change, accelerated communications, and diminished the importance of time and distance. As a result, the world is more interdependent, while the consequences of political, social, economic, and military developments are more interrelated.

3. Global problems, especially those related to the environment, population, and disease, will have ever greater impact. These problems demand international attention, and solutions must take implications for future generations and the integrity of the planet into account.

4. Multilateral cooperation and communication will prove increasingly feasible and effective to prevent crises, resolve problems, build trust, and advance common interests. Relations between nation-states will nevertheless remain central to the conduct of international affairs, but nongovernmental actors will gain increasing influence.

5. Democracy will continue to advance internationally, but democratic practices will vary among states and will be subject to countervailing influences and interests.

6. Economic interdependence will increase. Private enterprise will be the primary driver, although the role of government in maintaining stable macroeconomic conditions and promoting opportunities will remain critical. New centers of economic growth and power will emerge, trade and financial flows will accelerate, but distribution of the economic benefits, both internally and internationally, will be uneven.

A clear understanding and articulation of foreign policy goals must be based on recognizing how these six trends affect U.S. conduct of its international relations. Security, political, economic, and global priorities are not uniformly fixed, but vary with time and circumstance, are interlinked, and often involve difficult tradeoffs.

Diplomacy is America's first line of defense. Sustained military strength and flexibility are necessary to assure national security, but the conduct of U.S. relations with the rest of the world through an effective international presence and discerning leadership is what makes the United States a force for peace. Relatively small investments in diplomacy and sustainable development now to prevent conflict, create the conditions for economic growth, promote democracy, enhance communication, and protect the environment decrease the possibilities of much more costly conflict later and help ensure the prosperity and well-being of the American people.

Foreign affairs today has many dimensions in addition to national security, trade, and other traditional concerns. The number of nation-states, international organizations, and other involved parties each with their own interests and objectives has multiplied. Direct interaction and communication with foreign and domestic nongovernmental organizations and publics is an increasingly essential responsibility. Equally important, the intersection of domestic and foreign issues has expanded to affect every American and involve virtually the entire U.S. Government. In pursuing its international objectives, the United States must take into account the multiple and often competing intentions and interests of other governments and organizations, public opinion, Congress, and other U.S. agencies, as well as resource constraints.

Protecting national interests and advancing U.S. goals involves virtually every agency of the U.S. Government and requires a set of strategic assets:

	Expert diplomacy, a strong military, and effective intelligence, working in coordination to maintain national security;
	Fundamental capabilities to carry out international affairs missions in public diplomacy, sustainable development, and arms control;
	Full participation by domestic and specialized U.S. agencies in those aspects of international affairs that pertain to their particular scopes of authority and expertise;
	Programs in sustainable development, military cooperation, peacekeeping, law enforcement, finance, international information, academic and cultural exchange, and other fields to provide the means necessary to address problems and achieve objectives; and
	Diplomatic readiness consisting of the human resources, infrastructure and operations, and information resources management necessary for a strong U.S. international presence.

In order for the United States to fulfill its foreign policy goals with lasting effect, these assets must have the capability for worldwide deployment, be well coordinated, be stable enough to pursue long-term objectives, be flexible enough to prevent and mitigate emerging crises, have sufficient resources to meet established objectives, and have the support of the American people.

Source: U.S. Department of State Strategic Plan http://www.state.gov/www/global/general_foreign_policy/overview.html

Source: http://www.state.gov/www/global/general_foreign_policy/fy98_ia_bud.html

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