U.S Foreign Policy Priority in Barack Obama'sdministration: Maintaining Security and Balance of Power in Asia Pasific

WARDHANI, Dewanti Aditya, Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro

2013 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

Abstract The U.S. over the past few years has been going through some changes. The drawdown of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan; Obama’s much friendlier policy to the Middle East; it seems that the Global War on Terror is finally coming to an end. The end of the War on Terror marks a new era in the U.S. foreign policy. The Obama administration has made it clear of its intentions to redirect and rebalance its foreign policy to Asia Pacific, a region which consists of emerging economic and political powers. Much of the Bush administration’s foreign policy was spent in Middle East, most of the time neglecting Asia Pacific. With the United States’ absence comes China as an emerging great power in Asia Pacific. Its economic growth and military capability has made it one of the most powerful countries, not only in the Asia Pacific region but also worldwide. China’s emergence may have the potential to disturb U.S. balance of power in Asia Pacific, and may also threaten stability and security in the region. This thesis will try to prove from Alexander Wendt’s constructivist perspective that the decision to shift the U.S. foreign policy to Asia Pacific was a decision based on the United States’ ideas and images of the its position and situation in the region, thus constructing its policy and interests towards Asia Pacific. Keywords: balance of power, United States, security, stability, Asia Pacific, constructivist, foreign policy

Kata Kunci : Kebijakan Luar Negeri-Amerika Serikat