Week #1, Item #1: Obama's Plan for Iraq

It can come as no surprise that Barack Obama is the liberal candidate for the presidency—and his approach to foreign policy is no exception. In fact, the term goes beyond the traditional divide between left and right and reflects the difference between the realist and liberal perspectives of international relations. A strong example of this is Obama’s plan for the war in Iraq, published in The New York Times this July.

In contrast to John McCain’s realist approach to the conflict in Iraq, Obama’s plan emphasizes negotiations and compromise. Diplomacy is a key aspect of the liberal perspective, as it advocates for the common good without creating competition for power between states. The realist perspective, on the other hand, focuses on material power differences between states. As such, physical conflict between nations plays a large role in realist strategy.

Even within the realist school of thought, the plan takes a defensive tact. Obama clearly did not support a preemptive war, and hoped instead to concentrate on the action in Afghanistan. This approach would be more likely to maintain an equilibrium of power between states, rather than seek to increase the power of the US.



"My Plan for Iraq" by Barack Obama:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/opinion/14obama.html?scp=1&sq=obama%20iraq%20plan&st=cse