Human Rights as Foreign Policy

To prepare for this discussion, read President Carter’s statement on the role of human rights in foreign policy on page 458 in A Crucible of Power. Also, complete the assigned readings in Power’s book related to genocide and consider American policies during and after the Carter administration on human rights issues.
In your initial post, respond to the following question: Based on the experiences of President Carter, how can the United States promote human rights as foreign policy? Your response should also consider the issues Power discusses on the limitations of American human rights policy.
After making your post, respond to a minimum of 2 other classmates by evaluating and discussing the constraints on American advocacy of human rights.
Consult the Discussion Posting Guide for information about writing your discussion posts. It is recommended that you write your post in a document first. Check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors. This is a “post first” discussion forum, which means you must submit your initial post before you can view other students’ posts. When you are ready to make your initial post, click on “Reply.” Then copy/paste the text into the message field, and click “Post Reply.”
To respond to a peer, click “Reply” beneath her or his post and continue as with an initial post.
Learning & Assessment Activities
During this module you will:
Read:
• Required
o Module Notes: Nixon to Carter
o Chapter 15 in the text, Crucible of Power
o Chapters 8-10 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. in the text, A Problem from Hell
View:
• Required
o Segments 51, 52, 54-56 of the video, Cold War (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [length = 7:29 minutes]
Discuss:
• M6D1: Policy of Détente
• M6D2: Human Rights as Foreign Policy
Submit:
• M6A1: Abstract for Project 2: Cuban Missile Crisis
• M6A2: Module 6 Quiz
Module Notes: Nixon to Carter
Under President Nixon, the United States simultaneously expanded the war in Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia and gradually withdrew American troops from Vietnam. Nixon reached out to the USSR and initiated relations with China to create the spirit of détente. President Jimmy Carter emphasized human rights and attempted to bring peace to the Middle East.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger pursued a policy of détente with the USSR to improve relations and reduce Cold War tensions, culminating in SALT I, the recognition of East Germany, and the Helsinki Accords of 1972. Ironically, while reducing some nuclear weapons, SALT I actually led to a new arms race, and détente proved to be more of an appearance of compromise and harmony than a reality. Nixon visited China in 1972, and informal relations began on trade and cultural issues, ending the Cold War climate that had existed since 1949 in United States/China relations, but détente had no impact on the war in Vietnam. You should focus on what happened to American policy in Vietnam and Indochina, the expansion of the war into Cambodia and Laos and the gradual withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam. Consider the debate within the United States and the limitations Congress tried to put on future involvement and attempts to limit the president’s war powers. Look at Samantha Power’s analysis of the moral quandary about Pol Pot’s genocidal actions in Cambodia. Efforts under the brief administration of Gerald Ford to reengage in Indochina were rebuffed by Congress, but Ford and Kissinger did negotiate SALT II. Further action on détente stalled due to Watergate and Congressional efforts to curtail presidential power. You should consider the issue of the proper relationship between the president and Congress on foreign policy and war issues.
You should examine the difficulties associated with President Jimmy Carter’s human rights policies and his attempts to make human rights a cornerstone of his foreign policy initiatives. Consider the human rights issues raised by Power and the limitations of American action under Carter and his successors. President Carter’s achievements included brokering a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, which American presidents from Reagan to Obama have tried to expand on with less success. Pay attention to how détente collapsed under the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and the failure to finalize arms control. The overthrow of the Shah in Iran led to the hostage crisis, the botched rescue attempt, and the Carter administration’s failure to get the hostages home prior to the 1980 election.