Reagan Presidential Doctrines
President Ronald Reagan of the United States is known for implementing the “Reagan Doctrine” during his term. The intention of this doctrine was to reject the anti-communism that the Soviet Union was supporting in the US and other nations. This was a reflection of the major rule of the US which resulted in a foreign policy that lasted from the 1980s to 1991. Through the Reagan Doctrine, the US was able to provide help to anti-communist and resistant groups. The aim of this doctrine was also to draw communist governments together. These governments were in support of the Soviet Union in different contents that included Europe and Africa. The way via which this doctrine was implemented made it possible for the US to continue supporting the Cold War in order to prevent the impact of the Soviet Union on the US as well as other countries.
The US was required by the foreign policy to start diplomatic efforts at the time of President Reagan’s rule. The US government was compelled to help the affected places by controlling weapons and money to bring anti-communism to an end. Due to this situation, things were difficult for socialists and communists in terms of how the governments operated. International countries that include Libya, Cambodia, Latin America, Australia and Angola were involved. The diplomatic efforts of Reagan in Angola were seen following the provision of covert aid by his administration to an anti-communist group that Jonas Savimbi led (DeMuth, 1987).
These diplomatic efforts became apparent when terrorism acts were stopped by this doctrine saving people from crises. The government of President Reagan applied diplomatic efforts in ending false proof by Berlin that Libya had orchestrated the act. The situation happened after the explosion which left 63 American soldiers injured and a serviceman dead. Additionally, President Reagan used military communications to preserve the Australia and the US joint. The administration of President Reagan assured installations to the Hawke government but they were opposed by the labor party because they were not applicable to the project of strategic defense.
Reagan applied diplomatic efforts in Asia in countries like Cambodia with an aim of providing help to anti-soviet movements. The Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia resulted in an invasion during which about 1.2 million people were killed. As a response to the invasion, Reagan provided help to a movement in Cambodia that was opposing murder to end the Vietnamese attacks. The effort was successful especially when Vietnamese stopped attacking Cambodia as well as the downfall of a regime of communists in Australia. Due to the policy of Reagan in Australia, this state conducted free elections via the United Nations.
Diplomatic efforts of the US were needed in Latin American during the reign of President Reagan. This applied to countries like Nicaragua (Hahn, 1987). Their government was supported by President Reagan at the time of democratic transitions. Different events occurred in the US as well as in other countries leading to the application of diplomatic doctrine by Reagan. At around 1991 when the cold war was approaching, President Reagan doctrine helped in the prevention of attacks in various countries across the world. Through this doctrine, the government of the US provided open and underground help to the resistant movements, guerillas and anti-communist groups. The aim of this was to provide support to the governments of the communist states that included Soviet Union within continents like Africa, Asia and Latin America.
This doctrine perpetuated the strategy of the Cold War by moderating the influence of the Soviet by administering different regions. Due to this doctrine, a foreign policy was developed and implemented in order to identify different issues that were affecting international relations during that time. Through this doctrine, solutions were proposed to help the US foreign policy. The controversy that surrounded Nicaragua was among the events that took place at the time of this doctrine. This happened after a decision by the US to support the anti-communist. This resulted in a disjuncture between idealism and political terrorism assistance which was a justification of the policy of the US.
Analysis of this condition indicates that the character of the US was depicted as an inhumane act. For instance, the US participated in Nicaragua main ports’ mining. It also set the oil storage facilities on fire. This continued up to 1984. At this time congress intervened ending this controversy. The doctrine was also implemented during the time of the cold war. This is when it produced constructive feedback that was centered on the interests of the United States which were to ensure democracy in various continents.
As such, the doctrine compelled Nicaragua to end a state of emergency hindering the process of spreading pressure to the people. This doctrine also caused another event following the end of attacks by the Vietnamese after their allied government collapsed. In Angola, it was important for negotiations to take place in order to end resistance after the military was taken by the Soviet Union. With the help of this doctrine, more military personnel were able to join the war against Soviet Union. Eventually, the troops of the US succeeded in defeating the Soviet and the success of anti-communism stand. These occasions were all success cases that the diplomatic doctrine of President Reagan brought to the limelight which led to the resolution of the issue (Raymond, 1986).
The impacts of the US diplomatic efforts led to a predicament where about 140 billion dollars were spent by the government in an attempt to end the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, these diplomatic efforts were unsuccessful even when the government of the US deployed the military to protect a South Vietnam state that was non communist and independent. Consequently, several questions were posed after the failure of the US about the participation of the military in this battle as well as the essence of improving the US diplomatic efforts. Vietnamese army leaders convinced the US officials who agreed on the need for a change in leadership within South Vietnam. There were evident efforts in the US when a proposal was made to bring the Soviet Union to an end through an increase in military expenditure.
It was difficult for the Soviet to bear the increment since its economy was strained by a sudden rise. Cold war was also applied by diplomatic endeavors and this ensured that Soviet Union was unsuccessful in spreading resistant movements. There was a point when diplomatic efforts were unsuccessful in some countries because they could not identify issues that the US could face. Nevertheless, the fact that most countries across the world achieved their goal was the positive aspect of the doctrine. For instance, countries like Libya in Africa ended terrorism acts successfully. They also saved lives (Tucker, 1985). Additionally, Cambodia, a state in Asia ended its invasion by Vietnamese with diplomatic efforts’ assistance.
The main advantage of this doctrine is that it contributed towards the development of politics. It was successful in allowing small governments to be formed and these enhanced strategic defense as well as economics supply. Additionally, fundamental terms that were applied during debates that concern state welfare, economic theory and nuclear strategy were changed by this doctrine. Another advantage was that this doctrine declared support for the anti-communism revolution in America without shame. It fought on the grounds of justice as well as the need for democracy within the US and in other states.
This doctrine prevented Soviet domination by ensuring the success of freedom fighters by defeating the opponents who were in support of the Soviets. Another positive aspect of the Reagan doctrine was that it established foundation for the equality of the people who waged armed resistance against communism. Additionally, this doctrine led to the abandonment of the Soviet by the United States and sticking to gradual defenses development instead of offenses. This doctrine’s strategy was positive since it was aimed at the elimination of nuclear weapons’ use (Kirkpatrick, 1985).
Reagan doctrine had disadvantages as well. For instance it caused a situation in the US which led it to adopting old traditions of anti-communists. Another evident limitation is the support of Afghanistan fighters via diplomatic efforts. This was seen when this doctrine led to chaos after armed individuals from the US declined to share the interest of their country that was more than opposing the influence of the Soviet. This doctrine had a complex nature and billions were spent helping the US as well as other states in the fight against oppression by the Soviet. Additionally, more money was spent in the opposition through this doctrine and this resulted in the use of weapons and in some cases people were murdered in the content. Consequently, this prevented the maintenance of the image of the US since the concentration of Reagan was on the application of diplomatic efforts in opposing the Soviets.
References
DeMuth, C. (1987). The Reagan doctrine and beyond. Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.
Hahn, W. (1987). Central America and the Reagan doctrine. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America.
Kirkpatrick, J. (1985). The Reagan doctrine and U.S. foreign policy. Washington, D.C.: Heritage Foundation.
Raymond, S. (1986). The U.S. foreign policy. Washington, D.C.: Heritage Foundation.
Tucker, R. (1985). Intervention & the Reagan Doctrine. New York, N.Y.: Council on Religion and International Affairs.