Final Socratic Seminar

What role should the U.S. play on the World's stage after World War II?

After World War II the U.S. had a lot of choices about foreign policy. They could impose a Pax Americana which means they want control over the soviets. Or they could Contain soviet communism which means that the U.S. Wants to keep Soviet land separate from others. Or Co-exist and compromise which means that the Soviets and the Americans will compromise and share ideas and be lenient about it. Or avoid foreign entanglements, which means that the Americans can return to "making their lives better without foreign threats lurking over their shoulders." I think that these four policies are beneficial to the U.S. but I think that I agree with number three: Co-exist and compromise.

One of the reasons I believe in this is because Democracy is important to have. Democracy is basically equality and freedom for the people. I think that democracy can not be forced on others because it’s their own beliefs. If we can’t force it then we might suggest these rules on others. We can show it as a model and if they want to choose to listen and agree with it they can but if not they wont. This gives other countries equality and freedom to choose their own beliefs.

The ideas of equality and freedom come from the grate philosopher John Locke. He believed in Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Property. He thinks that everyone should have the ability to get these policies not just one person but everyone. Unlike like Locke, Hobbies believe that to have protection you have to give up freedom to those in power. The Soviet Union followed Hobbes’ idea because they gave up there freedom to the communists party in order to get protection. The U.S. is based on Locke’s ideas because the declaration of independence uses these rules and follows them. These two ideas make a conflict between the U.S. and the soviets.

To understand the conflicts we have to look at World War I and II. We entered these wars because there were conflicts between two nations. In WWI we got involved because the Germans had sunk the Lusitania, was a luxury cruise ship. The Americans were on the ship so the U.S. felt like it was an attack on them. Then in WWII we got involved because Japan had dropped bombs on Pearl Harbor. They attack the navy base in order to swipe out there powers. But in fact the U.S. came over and showed them there true powers.

By showing our powers in WWII the U.S. became together with other countries. The U.S. is the main leader in the world. This helped create the conflicts with the Soviets. This is because both of the U.S. and the soviets played a role in this war and after words they would both wanted different outcomes over the war. In order to move forward they should Co- Exist and compromise.