Walt Criticizes Unilateral Policies

Academic Dean of the Kennedy School of Government Stephen M. Walt called for a shift from unilateralism in U.S. foreign policy last night at the Institute of Politics.

In the event entitled “Can and Should American Power be Tamed?” a panel of policy experts addressed an almost full forum about the issue of foreign perceptions of American tyranny.

“Are we hypocritical? Sadly, sometimes, yes we are,” Walt said. “If our global footprint were smaller, our problem of terrorism would be substantially less.”

Specifically, he proposed a system called “offshore balancing,” in which American foreign policy would be backed by strong regional alliances rather than the threat of military action.

“We don’t need to control areas of the world, just be able to stop hostile powers from controlling them,” Walt said.

He also argued for a dramatic cutback in U.S. nuclear stocks.

Goodman United Nations Fellow of the Belfer Center and former Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs at the UN Sir Kieran Prendergast agreed with Walt’s thesis, and told the audience that there is an “attitude of jealousy and resentment” toward the U.S. foreign policy.

But he also said that the U.S. must be a strong force in international politics.

“You need U.S. leadership or you’ll have vehicles with no engine,” said Prendergast.

Executive Director of the Kennedy School of Government’s Belfer Center Xenia Dormandy was more cautious.

She said that while offshore balancing was desirable, the U.S. already does it extensively and it is not universally appropriate.

But Dormandy, who is also the former National Security Council director for South Asia, agreed with the other panelists that the ultimate goal of any adjustments to foreign policy must be the maintenance of American power. But this objective could be endangered by the government’s poor presentation of American policy.

“You spoke about appalling public diplomacy, you’re absolutely right,” Dormandy said to Walt.

Walt also referred to Hurricane Katrina and said it will affect the U.S.’s international standing.

“Hurricane Katrina is bad news for American influence, which means reconstruction is an opportunity,” he said arguing that American resources will be less available to fund its strategic goals and to subsidize peace plans. Walt also said the images of incompetence gave more incentive for countries to disagree with the U.S.

“American inequality gives one more reason you don’t have to follow the American lead,” he said.

Walt also highlighted the positive influence of American higher education in the spread of democracy because it exposes a large number of foreign students to democratic principles.

“That, if you are patient, is a more effective way of promoting democracy.”

The audience consisted primarily of Kennedy School students and local Cambridge residents.

“This is by far the most intimidating audience I will meet all year,” Walt said since, as a dean at the Kennedy School, he would be seeing them again.

But student response was generally positive.

“Dialogues like these are terrific,” said James A. Ponce, a first-year student at the Kennedy School. “But here is not where they need to be happening.”

Ponce’s response reflects some of the frustrations about lack of change in government that are outlined in Walt’s book, “Taming American Power: Global Response to US Primacy,” which was released two weeks ago.