The Bush Foreign Policy Legacy

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In The Media

The Bush Foreign Policy Legacy

President-elect Obama will inherit a number of foreign policy challenges from the Bush administration when he takes office. Key areas where the new administration must focus to reverse the Bush administration's failings include Afghanistan, diplomacy, unilateralism, arms control, and climate change.

By Jessica Tuchman Mathews

Published on Jan 12, 2009

Source: KPCC Air Talk

President-elect Obama will inherit a number of foreign policy challenges from the Bush administration when he takes office. Jessica Mathews outlines key areas where the new administration must focus to reverse the Bush administration's failings:

Afghanistan
After seven years of conflict, the war is sliding toward catastrophe.

Unilateralism
Bush's focus on empire building has undermined U.S. foreign policy around the world. The U.S. cannot operate above internal laws and norms, which is why the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison is so important.

Diplomacy
The Bush administration rejected the idea that tough, hard-headed negotiation could advance U.S. policy. At the same time, Iran's influence has grown. Direct talks can help ease the misapprehension both governments have for one another.

Arms Control
Breaking from 50 years of bipartisan policy, the Bush administration shifted focus away from reducing weapons and instead sought to remove the regimes that possessed them.

Climate Change
It is necessary to develop a climate treaty that addresses the major failings of Kyoto.

Mathews identified the continuation of disarmament talks with Libya, development of strategic dialogue with China, and African AIDS work as Bush administration successes.

About the Author

Jessica Tuchman Mathews

Distinguished Fellow

Mathews is a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She served as Carnegie’s president for 18 years.

Recent Work

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Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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