Foreign policy is a set of strategies a country uses to advance its goals, interests, and values in the world. It includes hard and soft tactics, from economic sanctions to military interventions. It is dynamic, influenced by changing circumstances and the environment. But the bedrock of foreign policy are principles like national sovereignty and non-interference.
The United States has a long history of promoting peace and prosperity around the world through diplomacy. It was a key architect of the post-World War II international order and continues to serve as its anchor. This global order has created the alliances, institutions, and norms that facilitate international cooperation, avoiding costly wars and economic destruction.
But as the United States faces increasing challenges from global powers such as China and Russia, future American leaders must consider how to reshape this international order to best meet our shared security and prosperity goals. To do so, they will need to understand the tangible impacts of foreign policy for Americans in their home communities.
At a time when polls show that international issues are increasingly important to Americans – even compared with stalwart concerns such as the economy – Meridian has partnered with NGOs, industry, academia, and U.S. diplomatic corps members to explore the real outcomes of foreign policy on Americans living beyond the Beltway. This project – titled “Foreign Policy Matters: How Diplomacy Impacts Us” – is now in its second year and examines the following topics: