Isabella Carter
The United States has historically had two dominant ideologies regarding foreign policy: interventionism, which encourages military and political involvement in other nations' affairs, and isolationism, which discourages it. Since World War II, the US has intervened in foreign elections and campaigns, with a 2016 study finding 81 such instances between 1946 and 2000. Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing financially to US elections, but foreign-influenced companies have poured millions into political contributions. Foreign interests have also attempted to sway US elections through digital advertising and social media campaigns, with Russia and Iran being notable examples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Foreign involvement in US elections | Foreign interests spent substantial sums to influence U.S. elections in 2016 and 2018. |
| Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report confirmed that foreign interests made systematic efforts to secretly influence the 2016 US elections through paid digital advertising and fake social media accounts. | |
| Following the 2020 elections, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report highlighting continued attempts by Russia and Iran to influence US elections through disinformation and social media campaigns. | |
| US involvement in foreign elections | A 2016 study found that the US intervened in 81 foreign elections between 1946 and 2000, mostly through covert actions. |
| The US has a history of interventionism, which encourages military and political intervention in foreign countries, and isolationism, which discourages it. | |
| Post-World War II foreign policy aimed to prevent the spread of world communism. | |
| The US has intervened in international conflicts through military action and drone strikes in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia. | |
| The US has provided economic aid and resources to countries like Great Britain, the USSR, France, and Taiwan. | |
| Foreign influence bans | Federal law bans foreign nationals from spending money on federal, state, and local elections in the US. |
| States like California, Colorado, Connecticut, and San Jose have enacted their own foreign influence bans on companies with foreign owners. | |
| Foreign-influenced companies have poured millions of dollars into political contributions in states that are cracking down on their political giving. |
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What You'll Learn
Foreign nationals are prohibited from spending on US elections
The United States has a long history of interventionism in foreign countries, dating back to the 19th century when it sought to resist European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. This interventionism has continued into the 21st century, with the US carrying out military and political interventions in various countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.
Despite this history of interventionism, foreign nationals are prohibited from spending on US elections. Federal law bans foreign nationals, including foreign citizens and governments, from making contributions, donations, expenditures, or disbursements in connection with any federal, state, or local election. This includes decisions concerning the administration of a political committee and the purchase or construction of an office building by a state or local party committee. Foreign nationals are also prohibited from participating in decisions involving election-related activities, such as directing or controlling the decision-making process of any person or organization with regard to their election-related activities.
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the regulatory agency responsible for enforcing these laws. However, there have been concerns about the FEC's commitment to protecting US elections from foreign interference, as they have failed to enforce the laws banning foreign money in elections. For example, in 2018, a US company, American Ethane Co., used money from Russian oligarchs to support federal candidates and political action committees (PACs) during the election cycle. While the FEC initially approved an investigation into this matter, the current Republican Commissioners dismissed the findings, characterizing the foreign money as an "investment" in an American company rather than as foreign influence.
Despite the FEC's inaction, some states and localities have taken steps to tighten restrictions on foreign campaign spending. For instance, Colorado prohibits contributions by US limited liability companies (LLCs) with foreign owners, while Seattle, Washington, has adopted a law prohibiting "foreign-influenced" companies from making contributions to candidates and independent expenditure (IE) committees. These efforts aim to protect the right of American citizens to democratic self-governance and ensure that foreign interests cannot influence US elections.
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Foreign interference in US elections through disinformation and social media campaigns
In recent years, foreign interference in US elections has become an increasingly prominent issue, with the 2016 election being a notable example. A 2016 study by Carnegie Mellon University professor Dov Levin found that the United States intervened in 81 foreign elections between 1946 and 2000, primarily through covert actions. This study highlights the historical involvement of the US in foreign elections and the potential for reciprocal interference in US elections.
Following the 2016 US election, it became clear that Russian agents had engaged in online efforts to sow chaos and inflame partisan divides among Americans. This included the use of fake personas (known as "trolls") spreading hyper-partisan themes and superconnectors designed to rapidly spread messages. Russian propaganda successfully generated strong partisan reactions, intensifying political divisions in the country. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in 2016 confirmed that foreign interests made systematic efforts to secretly influence the US elections through paid digital advertising and fake social media accounts.
The scale of electoral disinformation has been described as a firehose of disinformation, exceeding that of prior elections. In addition to Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba have also interfered in recent US elections. These countries have utilized social media to covertly advance their interests, exacerbate social divisions, and sow doubt in democracy and election results. The use of artificial intelligence tools has further enhanced the creation and dissemination of fake and divisive content, such as text, photos, videos, and audio files.
To combat foreign interference, the CISA has shifted its strategy towards educating the American public about electoral disinformation. Additionally, the Foreign Malign Influence Center was established in 2022 to serve as a command hub for combating electoral disinformation in the 2024 presidential election. While these efforts aim to mitigate the impact of foreign interference, addressing the underlying vulnerabilities in campaign finance laws and electoral transparency remains crucial to protecting the integrity of US elections.
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US foreign policy ideologies: interventionism vs isolationism
The United States has historically had two dominant ideologies when it comes to foreign policy: interventionism and isolationism. Interventionism encourages political and military intervention in the affairs of foreign countries, while isolationism discourages it.
Interventionism
The roots of US foreign interventionism can be traced back to the 19th century, driven by economic opportunities in the Pacific and Latin America, as well as the Monroe Doctrine, which sought to resist European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. The US has intervened in two world wars, fighting alongside its allies against Imperial Japan, Imperial and Nazi Germany, and their respective allies. After World War II, the US adopted a foreign policy of containment to prevent the spread of world communism.
During the Cold War, the US continued to intervene in foreign countries, often covertly, to support its interests and contain communism. For example, the US intervened in the 1953 Iranian coup d'état and supported right-wing governments in Latin America. After the September 11 attacks, the US launched the global war on terror, involving ground interventions and the use of drone strikes and special operations in various countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.
Isolationism
Isolationism, on the other hand, advocates non-entanglement in international politics and non-involvement in foreign conflicts. This ideology was prominent in the US during the 1930s due to the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I. Isolationists, a diverse group including progressives, conservatives, business owners, and peace activists, believed that the safety of the nation was more important than any foreign war. They drew upon historical precedents, such as Washington's farewell address, to support their arguments.
In conclusion, the US has vacillated between interventionism and isolationism in its foreign policy ideologies. Interventionism has led to military and political involvement in foreign countries, while isolationism has resulted in non-entanglement and non-intervention. However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of both approaches has been debated, and the US has often struggled to achieve its purported objectives in foreign interventions.
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US involvement in foreign elections
The United States has a long history of interventionism in its foreign policy, which includes both military and political intervention in other countries. A 2016 study found that the US intervened in 81 foreign elections between 1946 and 2000, with most of these interventions being covert.
One notable example of US involvement in foreign elections is the Lend-Lease program, which provided resources and weapons to countries fighting Nazi Germany in World War II. The US frequently did not push for repayment or "sold" the goods for a nominal price, which can be seen as a form of political and economic intervention in these countries.
In more recent years, the US has been accused of influencing elections in other countries through the use of "dark money". This refers to secret political contributions that are not publicly disclosed, making it difficult to know the true source of the funds. In 2016 and 2018, foreign interests spent substantial sums to influence US elections, with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report confirming that Russian actors made systematic efforts to influence the 2016 US election through paid digital advertising and fake social media accounts.
While federal law prohibits foreign nationals and foreign-influenced companies from contributing to US elections, critics argue that loopholes in campaign finance laws have allowed foreign interests to secretly influence American politics. States and local governments have begun to take their own steps to tighten restrictions on foreign campaign spending, but the full extent of foreign influence in US elections may never be known.
On the other hand, the US has also been accused of interfering in the elections of other countries. For example, under the Trump administration, the US used economic pressure against Venezuela and Iran, and intervened in the Cabo Delgado conflict in Mozambique at the request of the Mozambican government.
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US foreign military campaigns
The United States has historically engaged in numerous foreign military campaigns, with varying levels of involvement and impact. Two dominant ideologies have shaped US foreign policy: interventionism and isolationism. While interventionism encourages military and political intervention in other nations' affairs, isolationism discourages it.
The US has formally declared war on foreign nations five times throughout its history. Notable instances of US foreign military campaigns include:
World Wars:
During both World Wars, the US intervened, fighting alongside its allies against Imperial Japan, Imperial and Nazi Germany, and their respective allies. The Lend-Lease program provided resources and weapons to countries like Great Britain and the USSR, often without expecting repayment.
Post-World War II Containment Policy:
The US adopted a foreign policy of containment aimed at preventing the spread of world communism. This led to engagements like the Vietnam War, where North Vietnam sought to unite the country under a Communist government.
The Global War on Terror:
After the September 11 attacks, the US, alongside NATO, launched the global war on terror, utilizing drone strikes and special operations in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia against suspected terrorist groups.
Middle East Presence:
The US maintains a significant military presence in the Middle East, with forces in over a dozen countries, including permanent bases and naval assets in the region's waters. This presence has been used to deter and defeat threats from Iran and its affiliates, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Recent Engagements:
The Trump administration continued existing wars and operations, including interventions in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia. The Biden administration, in 2021, designated al-Shabaab in Mozambique as a terrorist organization and intervened in the Cabo Delgado conflict by deploying Army Special Forces to train Mozambican marines.
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Frequently asked questions
No, federal law prohibits US citizens from contributing to, donating to, or participating in the decision-making process of any person or organization with regard to federal, state, or local elections.
The US has a history of interventionism in foreign countries, driven by economic and political interests. While there is no concrete evidence of the US helping political campaigns in other countries, it has been involved in foreign elections and influenced their outcomes.
A 2016 study found that the US intervened in 81 foreign elections between 1946 and 2000, mostly through covert actions. More recently, the US has been accused of influencing elections in Venezuela, Iran, and Mozambique.
The consequences of US influence in foreign elections can vary. In some cases, it may lead to political unrest or the spread of democracy. In other cases, it may result in negative perceptions of the US or a violation of international law.
