In one sentence @JoeBiden makes clear his foreign policy worldview: “America is back, ready to lead the world, not retreat from it, once again sit at the head of the table, ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies, ready to stand up for our values.” THREAD 1/
In the U.S., two cleavage issues have shaped foreign policy debates since the founding our Republic: internationalism vs isolation and liberalism vs realism. 2/
In the last several decades, this debate is not BETWEEN political parties, but within them. If you can imagine a 2 X 2 matrix, there are Democrats and Republicans in all 4 quadrants. 3/
In the Republican Party for instance, Nixon and George H.W. were realists. Reagan and George W. Bush (after 9/11) were "liberals" (values mattered to them). 4/
Trump was an extremist on both of these policy debates -- an extreme isolationist (America First) and an extreme realist (he did nothing to advance democratic and human rights values. 5/
Biden made clear today that he is an internationalist and a "liberal" (although I hate that label) -- someone who will bring values back to American foreign policy. He is the opposite of Trump. And so too are Tony @ABlinken & Jake @jakejsullivan . 6/ END THREAD
And if you want a quick summary of these debates historically, check out slides 13-19 from this talk (somewhat outdated now): stanford.app.box.com/file/499295166…
Sorry, slides 18-24 (not 13-19), but check them all out if you'd like !
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