Diplomacy in the Modern Age

For renowned diplomat Ned Price, foreign policy is a way of life. He served in the CIA, on the National Security Council, and in the State Department. I recently attended his talk at the Dallas World Affairs Council and had the chance to talk to him over the phone, and he provided many valuable insights on the direction of foreign policy in the US.

Under President Trump, the US is taking an increasingly isolationist stance. This "America First" strategy is largely against the liberalist policies that have been instituted after World War II. In the 2024 election, Geopolitics took a backseat to the more talked-about social issues. Now, we see president Trump making cuts to the State department and programs like USAID, leading to the state department having a top-down structure like never before. These changes have drastically affected the view of the US worldwide, according to Pew Research. Specifically, countries with more authoritarian backgrounds have higher opinions of the US under Trump, and more liberal countries have lower opinions. Many countries also refuse to make deals with the US due to the volatility of government. One deal, like the Iran nuclear power deal made by Former president Obama, was revoked under Trump. Countries can't ensure that their agreements will be maintained under new leadership. Essentially, there are no guarantees for these countries.

One concerning issue for me is that the US's soft power is diminishing. Soft power, coined by Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, is a power deriving from economic and cultural influence, rather than coercion or military strength. For decades, people have wanted to come to America to live the American Dream, whether as students, for work, or any other reason.

For high schoolers, though, there are ways to get involved to make a change. According to Mr. Price, it starts with a passion to broaden your horizons and be curious. Learning about other countries online, reading the newspaper, traveling, and growing your knowledge. "You can't do it to get famous, you do it to make a difference," Price said. If we bring a new voice, a new passion, and a global mindset to foreign policy, there’s no telling what our generation can accomplish.