Historical Analysis Of Ideology In American Foreign Policy

As one of the factors affecting foreign policy, ideology plays a special and subtle role in foreign policy making. Considering that America is such a nation with its foreign policy greatly affected by ideology, this paper is then devoting to a historical analysis of ideology in American foreign policy.Ideology is derived from historical experience. It is America's unique history that has shaped distinctive American ideology and its extraordinary status in American foreign policy. Ideology in American foreign policy is mainly composed of three elements: American exceptionalism, racism and anti-radical revolution. From the Monroe Doctrine of the 19^th century to Wilsonism of the 20^th century, the Truman Doctrine during the cold war to the Clinton and Bush Administrations of post-cold war, ideology, with its different aspects, has a persistent and notable impact upon American foreign policy. This paper is attempting to highlight ideological elements in American foreign policy, and to explain how they affect contemporary American foreign policy.