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| The belief that America is unique, special and different from other nations because of its civil and religious liberty and its democratic form of government and that America's values should serve as an example for the rest of the world to follow. |
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| In the 21st century the international role of the United States has increasingly been described in terms of empire. Empire is a metaphor for America's worldwide military domination and its global political, economic, and cultural influence in the world today. |
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| The new strategic doctrine introduced by the Bush Administration in 2002. The major components of this neoconservative doctrine have been unilaterism, preemption (preventive war), regime change in rogue states, and the goal of spreading democracy throughout the world, but especially in the Middle East. |
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| The form of government in the United States. In a democracy, citizens rule themselves either directly or through elected representatives. |
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| The economic system of the U.S.. Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of property and free enterprise, competition for profits, and limited government interference in the marketplace. |
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| The influence or domination of a major country over smaller, weaker states within its sphere of influence. The term is often used today to describe the dominant role that the U.S. plays in the world today. |
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| A dominant country that exerts influence or control over smaller or weaker countries. The U.S. is sometimes described as a "global hegemon" today. |
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| An approach to international relations based on the belief that a state's foreign policy should be based on moral values and legal principles. |
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| A policy of extending a country's power through the acquisition of additional territory or through direct control over other countries. Critics of American foreign policy who believe the U.S. wants to dominate the world have often described U.S. actions as being "imperialistic." |
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| Those on the far right of the political spectrum who want the U.S. to withdraw from involvement overseas. |
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| Liberal Internationalists |
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| Describes those to the left of center on the political spectrum. They are idealists who believe that U.S. foreign policy should emphasize the protection of human rights and they are multilateralists who stress the importance of working with other nations who share our ideals. |
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| "Marked by idealism and an aggressive crusading spirit, a sense of historic mission." The term is often used today to express the idea that America's mission is the "save the world" by spreading its values and ideas. |
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| Describes the conservative idealists found to the right of the center on the political spectrum who believe the spread of democracy is the most important U.S. foreign policy goal. |
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| Latin meaning "peace imposed by America." Compares America's power today with the power exercised by Rome at the height of the Roman Empire. Supporters of Pax Americana argue that the U.S. should use its power to impose peace, order, and stability on the rest of the world. |
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| The use of force to stop potential threats against an enemy that may pose a danger in the future. Preventive war is not permitted by existing international law, but has been a key component of the Bush Doctrine since the Sept. 11, 2005 terrorist attacks on the U.S. |
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| Describes those on the far left of the political spectrum who accuse the U.S. of seeking global dominance. |
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| An approach to foreign policy based on hard, pragmatic considerations rather than on moral or idealistic concerns. Realpolitik is German for "the politics of reality" and is often applied to the policies of nations that consider only their own interests in dealing with other countries. |
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| Realists (Conservative Internationalists) |
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| To the right of the center of the political spectrum. They believe the promotion of U.S. interests should determine American foreign plicy and that order and stability are more important than either the promotion of democracy or the protection of human rights. |
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| The ability to obtain desired outcomes through the power of attraction rather than coercion. The term is used in contrast to hard or economic power, which are both referred to as "hard power." A country's soft power causes others to follow it and emulate it out of admiration and respect. Soft power is derived from a country's culture, values, political ideals, and the policies that it follows. Soft power may also refer to a country's use of diplomacy or humanitarian gestures such as foreign aid or disaster relief. |
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| A great power with global influence because of its military and/or its economic power. A superpower is so powerful in relation to other countries that it's in a class by itself. Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. has been the world's only superpower. |
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| A policy of acting alone in the conduct of foreign affairs, characterized by minimal consultation and involvement with other nations, even allies. During the first term of the Bush administration there was a percieved shift towards more unilateral approach to U.S. foreign policy. |
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| An international system dominated by one powerful state. The world today is often described as being unipolar because of the dominant position of the U.S. |
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