http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/isolationism Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:46:14 -0400 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:46:14 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1614/the-weakest-link-credible-deterrence-threats-and-alliance-entrapment By Elizabeth Calos - Over the past 20 years, the international order has been characterized by the conflict between the United States' desire for isolationism and its desire to maintain hegemony. While the United States has initiated and continued wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that are increasingly unpopular with alliance members, it has also focused on increasing NATO buy-in and has become involved in conflicts, like the one in Libya, at the insistence of its NATO partners. These contradictory trends raise interesting questions about the importance of defensive alliances as a method of deterring conflict. The United... Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1614/the-weakest-link-credible-deterrence-threats-and-alliance-entrapment http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1220/the-problems-with-american-exceptionalism By Timothy Borjian - In 2001, German President Johannes Rau made a statement that divided Germany. In an interview with a television station, Rau said that although he is “pleased and grateful” to be German, he cannot be “proud” of it––as “it is not an achievement to be German, [but] just a matter of luck.”1 This statement drew criticism from the opposition in Germany who claimed that without patriotism, it is not possible to adequately represent the interests of the country. Many politicians called for Rau’s resignation or, at the very least, a recant of his words... Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1220/the-problems-with-american-exceptionalism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1224/the-illusion-of-us-isolationism By Eugenio Lilli - As of September 2011, the United States was involved, at different levels, in military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. America has more than 700 military installations overseas , and its military expenses account for almost half of the world’s total . This substantial foreign engagement directly contradicts the United States’ self-professed isolationism in foreign policy. The concept of US isolationism dates back to the colonial days. Evidence for example can be found in Thomas Paine’s work, Common Sense (1776). It was then often reiterated by US leaders... Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1224/the-illusion-of-us-isolationism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/114/examining-us-foreign-policy-refuting-american-isolationism By Peter Crowley - From before its birth to the present, the expansion of US power has been analogous to an ever-expanding hand upon the globe. Despite some of today's historically inaccurate politicians citing a revered past of non-interventionism and isolationism, the mainstay of American foreign policy has been one of expansionism and interventionism. Sparse periods of aloofness to the world are an anomaly rather than the norm. Hence, when the slogan “Bring America Back” rings out at various political campaigns, whatever is meant by it, it cannot mean a desire to return to a time when America was... Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:23 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/114/examining-us-foreign-policy-refuting-american-isolationism