Foreign Policy

Foreign policy usually goes through the same basic steps—an issue gets on the agenda; policy alternatives are offered; the government adopts a policy; the policy is implemented; and the policy is evaluated. The difference is that the number of people involved is usually smaller.

The Bush Doctrine, put forward by President George W. Bush, argues that the United States should preemptively attack nations that could pose a threat to it.

The military-industrial complex is the alliance of the armed forces, defense contractors, and members of Congress whose districts rely heavily on the military. Some worry that it wields too much influence, increasing the size of the military in order to boost profits.