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CIAO DATE: 03/02
Preface
In a speech at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government at the beginning of this year, Secretary of State Warren Christopher set out the guiding principles of U.S. foreign policy under the Clinton administration.
"The end of the Cold War," the Secretary said, "has given us an unprecedented opportunity to shape a more secure world of open societies and open markets — a world in which American interests and ideals can thrive. But we also face serious threats from which no border can shield us — terrorism, proliferation, crime and damage to the environment.
"If we lead, we can sustain the momentum that defeated communism, freed us from the danger of nuclear war and unfurled freedom's flag around the world."
To shape the more secure world now possible, he reaffirmed the four principles he had outlined at the same forum a year earlier:
"Our commitment to provide leadership is the first of the central principles guiding our foreign policy.
"A second principle is the need to strengthen the institutions that provide an enduring basis for global peace and prosperity. These institutions, such as the United Nations, NATO and the World Bank, help us to share the burdens and costs of leadership. This year, a top priority will be working with Congress to meet our financial obligations to the U.N. as it undertakes an essential program of reform.
"A third principle is that support for democracy and human rights reflects our ideals and reinforces our interests. Our dedication to universal values is a vital source of America's authority and credibility. We simply cannot lead without it. Our interests are most secure in a world where accountable government strengthens stability and where the rule of law protects both political rights and free market economies.
"A fourth principle is the critical importance of constructive relations with the great powers. These nations — our allies in Europe and Japan, as well as Russia and China — have the greatest ability to affect our security and prosperity."
To those continuing principles, Christopher added three new objectives for 1996, including one to deal with the new threats he had cited.
"In the coming year," he said, "we will give special emphasis to three main objectives: first, pursuing peace in regions of vital interest to the United States; second, confronting the new transnational security threats; and third, promoting open markets and prosperity."
In this first issue of U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda a group of administration foreign policy leaders explains how the principles and objectives are being implemented around the globe; two expert observers describe the context, international and domestic, in which the policy is operating; and an international affairs expert assesses how well it is working. We hope you will find the issue interesting and informative.