Staff Editorial
U.S. Needs to Avoid Unilateralism in World Affairs
Issue date: 11/3/05 Section: Opinion
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A country cannot expect to solve global issues working alone. It is not feasible that worldwide problems such as AIDS, poverty, terrorism and hunger will simply disappear due to the efforts of a single nation. To solve a global problem requires the efforts of a global community. It is critical that countries work together to find effective solutions that address the swelling turmoil around the world.
Former congressman Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) believes that countries must work together to solve global issues, rather than taking a unilateral approach that excludes the involvement of other nations. Hamilton's ideas towards foreign policies may in fact be exactly what the United States needs.
It is possible, however, that these ideas are too idealized within the polarized context of the United States. For the next three years it may be difficult for the United States to work with any other country since the Bush administration's initiative towards terrorism has excluded the participation of many other global superpowers. Conquering global problems through the collaborative effort of many countries, including the United States, may be an exceedingly difficult goal to achieve. It seems as though in the United States our politicians are too afraid of losing election points to try and negotiate with other countries.
The United States may be a superpower, as it was deemed almost 70 years ago, but the problems the world is facing go far beyond the realm of combat. To survive as a world we need to unite and the United States needs to swallow some of its pride.
The United States should not take on the entire weight (both consequences and successes) of attempting to solve these global problems; in fact, many of the problems are increasingly apparent in countries outside the United States which know first hand the consequences of these problems.
Unilateralism will not improve the United States' relations with the rest of the world. If it is true that the United States is the most dominant power, then this country's actions might have an extremely powerful effect on other countries. The United States will only alienate other countries through unilateralism.
However, it is important to acknowledge that as a world power, the United States cannot wait around for every country to jump on the bandwagon whenever it decides to confront a worldwide problem. Nevertheless, as Hamilton said, "For the times that the United States must act alone, we should do so as a last, not as a first, resort." Pre-emptive action, through the determination to act alone, must not get in the way of effectively solving worldwide problems. This is true especially when these problems, left unsolved, can lead to humanity's ultimate demise.
The Staff Editorial represents the collective views of the Editorial Board of the Smith College Sophian, not the views of the entire staff of the Sophian, nor the views of the administration, faculty, staff, or students of the College. Each week, the authorship of this column alternates between members of the Editorial Board.
Former congressman Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.) believes that countries must work together to solve global issues, rather than taking a unilateral approach that excludes the involvement of other nations. Hamilton's ideas towards foreign policies may in fact be exactly what the United States needs.
It is possible, however, that these ideas are too idealized within the polarized context of the United States. For the next three years it may be difficult for the United States to work with any other country since the Bush administration's initiative towards terrorism has excluded the participation of many other global superpowers. Conquering global problems through the collaborative effort of many countries, including the United States, may be an exceedingly difficult goal to achieve. It seems as though in the United States our politicians are too afraid of losing election points to try and negotiate with other countries.
The United States may be a superpower, as it was deemed almost 70 years ago, but the problems the world is facing go far beyond the realm of combat. To survive as a world we need to unite and the United States needs to swallow some of its pride.
The United States should not take on the entire weight (both consequences and successes) of attempting to solve these global problems; in fact, many of the problems are increasingly apparent in countries outside the United States which know first hand the consequences of these problems.
Unilateralism will not improve the United States' relations with the rest of the world. If it is true that the United States is the most dominant power, then this country's actions might have an extremely powerful effect on other countries. The United States will only alienate other countries through unilateralism.
However, it is important to acknowledge that as a world power, the United States cannot wait around for every country to jump on the bandwagon whenever it decides to confront a worldwide problem. Nevertheless, as Hamilton said, "For the times that the United States must act alone, we should do so as a last, not as a first, resort." Pre-emptive action, through the determination to act alone, must not get in the way of effectively solving worldwide problems. This is true especially when these problems, left unsolved, can lead to humanity's ultimate demise.
The Staff Editorial represents the collective views of the Editorial Board of the Smith College Sophian, not the views of the entire staff of the Sophian, nor the views of the administration, faculty, staff, or students of the College. Each week, the authorship of this column alternates between members of the Editorial Board.