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Obama Idealism

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Almost 100 years have passed since Woodrow Wilson held the office as the 28th President of the United States of America, but the battle he started between idealists and realists is still prevalent today. The continuous struggle between these two conflicting perspectives is evident when comparing and contrasting international foreign affairs from one president to the next, and even when examining multiple different foreign policy decisions made under the same administration. There is bountiful evidence of the existence of this battle when simply examining the multitude of foreign policy decisions made throughout the duration of Barack Obama’s two terms as President of the United States. The battle that Wilson began in the early 1900’s between …show more content…
Although the President doesn’t define himself as fitting either of the two categories, analysts can find remnants of both types of foreign policy decision-making when studying our nation’s foreign affairs when under the control of President Obama. Specifically focusing on the methods used when negotiating with Syria, and Israel and Palestine, the difference in approach in dealing with each of these crises demonstrates the ongoing battle between idealism and realism- as the foreign affairs involving Israel and Palestine reveals an idealist approach, while simultaneous the foreign policy in Syria displays a realist …show more content…
Additionally, this theoretical framework is “based on values and on the importance of peoples and nations working together cooperatively,” (Kaufman, 2014). A present day example would be when the United States, and Secretary of State John Kerry, hosted Peace talks and negotiations between the United States, Israel, and Palestine, “with the goal of achieving two states, living side by side in peace and security,” (Nosanchuk, 2013). The Obama administration took a page out of President Wilson’s playbook by involving ourselves in an international affair, and working towards the overall goal of peace through conversations and negotiations opposed to hard power military

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