Perspective Of Isolationism

The isolationism is regarded as the traditional foreign policy and thought of U.S.A. Its basic meaning is, with the development commercial relation, to avoid bearing overseas political, military obligation as much as possible, or to refuse to make an alliance with foreign forces, especially European countries, to emphasize "going it alone", "neutrality" in order to safeguard the independence and freedom of U.S.A. itself. Thomas Pan En's claimation that the independence was obtained from British rule is one of sources of isolationism idea.《Declaration of Neutrality》of George Washington has laid the fundation for the thought of isolationism, of which the publition of《Farewell》markes the basic forming of isolation. According to national strength, realizing U.S.A interests to the maximum extent is the essential reason that isolationism comes to being; the geopolitical factor has offered the objective prerequisite for the forming of the isolation. In addition, there are deeply national characteristics, political culture, religion etceterd, in the forming of the isolationism. The isolationism had been developed further by the President Thomas Jeferson, James Monroe after George Washington, namely, the diplomatic thought of the American continent was confirmed to cause U.S.A to the elementary hegemonism —"doctrine of the Western Hemisphere" while maintaining "isolating" and avoiding involving in the European affairs. Its basic goal is to obtain hegemony to the Western Hemisphere, while preventing the Eastern Hemisphere from invading the Western Hemisphere. During two World Wars, the leading position of isolationism in American diplomacy, has reached a climax. An important behaviour of the isolationism is to insist on the foreign policy of neutrality. In World War II, the isolationism of U.S.A is actually a kind of adnomal policy of compromise which connives to the aggression and expansion from fascist countries. "Pearl Harbor Incident" causes the diplomatic policy of U.S.A to turn significantly. The isolationism is not the major factor of the American diplomatic policy any more. Compared by old isolationism, new isolationism after the war objects to the interference of not corresponding with national interests of U.S.A and advocates the policy center of country should be put on the domestic question, especially , follow the principle of "America First"; and must reduce the overseas obligation of U.S.A , to "return to U.S.A"; must make the foreign policy, according to the national interests of U.S.A. The isolationism in the early America is the original form of unilateralism, but it is a mutant result under the catalyst function of the dominant ambition of isolationism. Both are originated to the trust of myth of "U.S.A's Exception". The theory of myth of "U.S.A's Exception" produces American supremacy, thus it is inclined to isolationism in dealing with international affairs. Under the control of the hegemony psychology, emphasizing American interests above anything, often makes U.S.A develop into the extreme--American unilateralism, regardless of international coordination. As the isolationism, new isolationism, unilateralism, traced to the same origin, U.S.A's interests are regarded as the starting point in essence, in order to serve for expansionism, hegemonism of U.S.A, no matter what their external form has any differences, with the different times, and the gradual enhancement of U.S.A's strength.