Being of the most developed countries in the world, the United States is continuously faced with threats from various places. Handling such threats and ensuring the security and prosperity of the country requires the implementation of different effective measures. Most American presidents come into office with a plan with which they will use to ensure that their promises to the country are fulfilled. In most cases, different presidents come up with their presidential doctrines which act as statements of the official policy that will be adopted by the government mainly with regards to its relationship with foreign countries and military strategies. A perfect example of a presidential doctrine is president Trump’s America first policy which puts an excellent focus on American unilateralism and nationalism.
Summary of the Situation that Led to the Adoption of the Policy
The America First slogan was first used by both republican and democrat politicians who were against the involvement of the United States in the Second World War. They argued that the United States needed to maintain neutrality during the war as active participation did not serve any of its interests ( Abdulkareem, 2018 ). President Woodrow Wilson used the slogan to describe to the American people his definition of neutrality. The motto was also used during the 1920 election by President Harding. By using the slogan, most of the leaders at that time believed that it was necessary for the United States first to analyze and determine whether or not their involvement in the war would serve any of their interests. They further argued that the United States needed to concentrate on building and improving her economy rather than getting into a war that did not benefit her in any way. Even though the United States eventually participated in the war, the slogan invoked a sense of nationality among the American people during the Second World War. President trump also picked up on the slogan during his campaigns and made it his official doctrine after he was elected into office. President Trump’s concern was that the United States was losing its dominance on the world stage by opening its doors to foreign industries and companies that profited from the lucrative American market at the expense of local companies. He aimed to regulate trade between the United States and other countries and improve local industries ( Abdulkareem, 2018 ).
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Description of the Strategy
During his campaigns, President Trump promised the United States’ citizens that he would make America great again if elected into the highest office in the land. Making America great according to him would require first considering the priorities of the United States before anything else. According to Abdulkareem, President Trump argued that the United States had sacrificed a lot for the betterment of the world but had not gotten anything tangible in return. He, therefore, proposed drastic changes in various sectors including trade with other countries and the country’s foreign policy and military spending. The America first policy that was adopted by President Trump saw the government cut down it's spending on foreign aid and increase its spending on military and homeland security. Additionally, the policy saw the government increased import duty on products from other countries, a move that president trump said would strengthen and expand local companies and industries (2018). Despite widespread criticism on the policy, President Trump seems unmoved and determined to see that the policy is implemented to its entirety.
Effects of the Strategy
It is without a doubt that the implementation of the strategy has resulted in widespread effects not only in the United States but also in the whole world. Foremost, the policy has isolated the United States because it has forced it to look inwards to find the solution to many of its problems. The policy has also led to the deterioration of the relationship that exists between the United States and many of its traditional partners such as Great Britain and France (Harini, 2018). Most of its allies have termed the policy as antagonistic and a hindrance to global free trade.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Policy
Despite the criticism that it has received, America's first policy has some disadvantages that cannot be ignored. As Lee suggests, the implementation of the policy has shielded local companies and industries from competition that originate from foreign companies. The policy also calls for tariffs which aim to encourage local industries to expand their operations and take advantage of the lucrative American market. Furthermore, the policy has also led to more secure united states as more funds have been directed to the military and homeland security. Most importantly, the policy has invoked a sense of patriotism and nationalism among many American citizens (2018). However, many disadvantages have resulted from the implementation of the America first policy. Since the United States has passed policies that are unfriendly to foreign companies, many foreign countries have responded by implementing policies that make it hard for American companies to do business in them. For example, the trade dispute between the United States and China will have adverse effects on American companies operating in China (Harini, 2018). Additionally, the policy of non-intervention only helps to increase the threats that face the United States since the threats will grow more significant if they are not promptly dealt with. Finally, the policy has affected local companies even more because of the high tariffs imposed on foreign products makes it difficult for the local companies to get raw materials that they need for their operation.
Conclusion
In summation, the America first policy adopted by president trump is one of the latest and most controversial presidential doctrines to be implemented. The policy advocates for the prioritization of America’s interests above every other thing. Even though it has provided some advantages to the country, its effects far outweigh the benefits.
References
Abdulkareem, Y. A. (2018). Conflict, international trade, and president Trump's isolationist policies. Journal of International Trade Law & Policy, 17 (1), 34-45. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JITLP-07-2017-0024
Harini, V. (2018, October 9). America first’ policy in Asia could result in ‘America last,’ expert says. CNBC, Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/10/america-first-policy-in-Asia-could-result-in-America-last.html
Lee, M. (2018, September 21). AP Analysis: Other nations adjust to the "America first" policy. Denver Post , Retrieved from https://www.denverpost.com/2018/09/21/donald-trump- America-first-policy/
