Anybody who knows about America’s political and social history is aware that the United States is made up of immigrants fleeing political, religious and social oppression and injustice in their countries. They came seeking security, safety and prosperity. Thus America came into being.
Many intellectuals argue that the greatness of America lies in the fact that all these racial groups in the country brought something new to it. The world had never witnessed anything like it before. Its positive effects were soon evident in the form of economic development, social progress, and, above all, technological superiority.
Since it was established in 1776, the United States has remained isolated from the rest of the world. All its efforts have gone into achieving the goals of progress, development and economic growth. Its political concern centered on South America, which it referred to as "America’s backyard". This of course was against the wishes of other colonial powers, which had different ambitions in the region.
This situation continued until World War I. Then, US President Woodrow Wilson was instrumental in creating the League of Nations within the framework of the principles by which he later became famous. Wilson exerted all possible effort to make it work in the inter-war period. But Congress ruined his dreams, and the country continued its isolationist policies.
Then World War II broke out as a result of the expansionist policies adopted by Hitler in Europe. Great Britain challenged Hitler, but in spite of the continuation of the war, America pursued its isolationist policy. The world at that time and in the past century was living under the British era (Pax Britannica).
The issue that prompted the US to come out of its isolation during World War II was Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. This provoked America to join Britain in the war against Hitler, Japan and Italy.
Europe and Japan emerged from the war in economic ruins and with their infrastructures destroyed. The US tried to save Europe from the crisis by offering the Marshall Plan, which allocated several billions of dollars for reconstruction. It also helped save Greece and Turkey from the claws of communism by applying the Truman Doctrine, which warned Greece and Turkey were on the verge of falling into the claws of the "Russian bear".
After the war, Britain informed the US of its inability to play the role of a superpower and that Washington had to start playing that role in relation to the Soviet Union and the countries that formed the Eastern bloc. This marked the beginning of the American era (Pax Americana), which continues to this day. And as we can see, the US seems to use its foreign policies to interfere in regions where there are conflicts already happening, such as Korea, and later Kuwait and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Yugoslavia.
But the US revealed how its foreign policies worked against its own interests. The reason was that American politics are made by two parties who are influenced by pressure groups, which now play a major role in influencing policy decisions regarding conflicts outside the US.
There are obstacles created by these lobbying forces which the US has to overcome. These forces work to serve interests outside the country. The Zionist influence is a clear example. The US was one of the first countries to recognize Israel.
Over the years, US foreign policy has been held hostage by these various lobbying and interest groups. On many occasions it has, therefore, failed to make the right decision at the right time. Sometimes it has blocked or halted vital policy decisions despite their legitimacy and significance.
The terrorist attack of Sept. 11 took place in this context. Since that incident, not only America but the entire world has changed. It is no longer the US or the world we knew before. For those who have followed events in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, it is obvious that the US, consciously or unconsciously, has retreated down the road to isolationism for the second time in its history. This is what we learn from new laws introduced and its general efforts to get rid of "aliens".
We believe that the situation will get more complicated and consequently the US will move further toward isolationism.
This gives rise to several questions. Is it possible for the US to adopt successfully such an isolationist policy? Is it possible for the US in this era of a single superpower to become isolated from the rest of the world?
The answer is that it will be very difficult for the US to adopt an isolationist policy for a second time. The simple alternative is to pursue a balanced foreign policy that would have both positive and negative effects, especially in relation to the various conflicts around the world.
It is evident that power is not enough in the modern world to enable a country to achieve its aims and objectives. True, power may solve certain problems in a limited manner; but such action will have consequences that will not necessarily be positive.
Today the entire world stands by the US in its war on terrorism. It is inevitable that the US will adopt a balanced and responsible foreign policy based on the value of justice. At that point, the US will realize how simple is the substitute for an isolationist policy.
In my opinion, the US will not be able to pursue its isolationist policy because it will be more harmful than useful and is based on hostility and dominance. In fact, following the fall of the Soviet Union, the world — which is now living in the American era — is in need of a force working for justice, a force working for authority and credibility, a force taking firm stands and adopting solid and transparent principles, more than it needs anything else.
