Foreign policy is a broad term for a nation’s actions and priorities in the global arena. It covers international relations, the development of trade agreements, the promotion of democracy and freedom around the world, and more.
The formal powers specified in the United States Constitution put the President at the center of foreign policy, granting him the authority to negotiate treaties and appoint ambassadors. But Congress still has a role to play, and historically, it has tended to override the White House on certain foreign-policy matters. For example, a president may choose to go to Congress for approval before escalating a conflict abroad. Congress could also block a military deployment by using its “War Powers Resolution” to reclaim control of a situation.
But a major shift is underway. Millennials, the generation born between 1980 and 2004, appear to place a higher priority on the nation’s domestic problems than on its foreign policy engagement. In a 2015 Pew survey, they listed education, jobs, economic mobility and the moral breakdown of society as more pressing concerns than combating terrorism.
For the next UK government, a new balance will be needed. Managing an increasingly confrontational China will remain essential on issues such as trade and technology governance, but it must be balanced against the need to protect the country against Beijing’s cyberattacks, interference and economic coercion. The next UK government will also need to develop plans to cope with a US that is less committed to partnerships on global challenges like climate change and global security, perhaps by deepening relations with Europe.
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