Overview
2008 - 2010
The Obama administration faces a number of extremely serious and substantial problems both domestically and in the field of foreign policy. Foreign policy issues start with Iraq and Afghanistan but extend to North Korea, Iran, Israeli-Palestinian relations, and developments in Pakistan. However, these are but a sample of the urgent foreign policy issues facing the Obama administration. The purpose of this project is to elucidate the direction of U.S. foreign and security policies under the Obama administration by focusing on the foreign policy philosophies of policy makers. A review of the foreign and security policy staff of the Obama administration seems to reveal the following at the present time. The most left-leaning elements of the Democratic Party adhering to left and anti-war positions have been basically excluded and the staff is centered on moderates. Moreover, efforts have been made to include moderate Republicans and realists, such as Robert Gates and Brent Scowcroft. The project will aim to develop a fuller understanding of basic foreign policy positions reflected in these appointments. The project will also aim to deepen its analysis of specific policy areas, such as Asia, the Middle East and nuclear non-proliferation.
December 1, 2008 - July 31, 2010
