[Issue Briefing] Come Home, America?

Editor's Note

This Issue Briefing is a result of the "Think Tank Joint Research" project, led by Yeo Si Jae (與時齋) and conducted by EAI with major domestic think tanks. It was originally published on the Yeo Si Jae website on September 22, 2017. The foreign policy of the U.S. Trump administration can be summarized as "America First." This has led to assessments that the U.S. has shifted from its previous stance of actively engaging in international affairs and exercising leadership towards isolationism. This report examines the two traditions of American foreign policy, isolationism and interventionism, analyzing how the Trump administration's isolationist path began and what it signifies. It then discusses the problems and challenges of Trump-style isolationism by summarizing the positions of major U.S. think tanks.

From the Main Text

"In 1997, the prominent academic journal International Security published an article titled 'Come Home, America,' in which the authors strongly argued that the U.S. should cease intervening in international politics, sparking significant domestic and international debate. Since then, particularly after 9/11 and the Iraq War, opposition to U.S. intervention in international politics surged, and with ISIS occupying regions in the Middle East, negative discussions regarding U.S. intervention, especially by the U.S. military, increased."

"In 2012, an article published in International Security, titled 'Don’t Come Home, America,' criticized the U.S.'s isolationist foreign and security policy stance, arguing that the U.S. must continue to play its role as a global leader to maintain international order and peace and to ensure the prosperity of the world economy."

"According to experts... economic isolationism is projected to increase instability in the U.S. and global economies, lower credibility, and consequently raise various related costs while freezing investment. Therefore, they strongly warn of the risks associated with withdrawing from treaties and emphasize the need to pursue treaty renewal instead of withdrawal."

"As trade expands and markets open, the costs borne by American citizens (job losses, increased social costs) grow, while the benefits they receive (income increase) are relatively too small. This has led American citizens to turn towards economic protectionism and, by extension, national isolationism."

"Experts from think tanks in various fields... emphasize that choosing isolationism in this situation can never be in the U.S.'s own interest. What the U.S. needs now, they argue, is to find a new role for America as an international leader, commensurate with the changed international society, through sufficient domestic discussion."

EAI Issue Briefings provide expert diagnosis and analysis on major domestic and international issues, offering recommendations for sound policy development. EAI strives to provide a balanced perspective, create a platform for constructive policy discussions, and generate ideas essential for our society.