Verified Document

International Relations Discuss The Origins Thesis

This form of Wilsonian idealism has been somewhat tempered by a more contemporary reformulation of idealism, social constructivism. " While is has shed the normative mantle of idealism, social constructivism does emphasize that social actors act not only according to their selfish interest, as in realism…but also in response to shared values and norms. Social constructivism therefore stresses that the creation of international institutions in general and international organizations in particular, depends on whether there is a consensus over values and norms" such as a desire for peace or regional economic development (Blanke 2008). Social constructivists, more so than normative idealists or both schools of realists, stress the need for regional actors to have an influence on international events, as it is more likely they can achieve such a normative consensus of values. Discuss the provisions of the War Powers Act of 1973. Why was the Act enacted? In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and the ensuing invasion of Iraq, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the Act?

It may surprise many Americans to know that "the United States has not formally declared war since World War II" (Lithwick 2001). The War Powers Act of 1973 arose in response to the abuses of the American government during the Vietnam War, which was never specifically declared a war by Congress, as specified in the Constitution under Article I, Section 8. This Article reads that Congress has sole power "to declare war [and] grant letters of marque and reprisal" even though the President is officially 'Commander in Chief' of all branches of the military (Lithwick 2001).

"The War Powers Resolution (P.L. 93-148) was passed over the veto of President Nixon on November 7, 1973, to provide procedures for Congress and the President to participate in decisions to send U.S. Armed Forces into hostilities. Section 4(a) (1) requires the President to report to Congress any introduction of U.S. forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities. When such a report is submitted, or is required to be submitted, section 5(b) requires that the use of forces must be terminated within 60 to 90 days unless Congress authorizes such use or extends the time period. Section 3 requires that the President...

Armed Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities" (Grimmett 2004).
The intention of the Act was to restore the balance of powers intended by the Founding Fathers between Congress and the President, to ensure that Congress had an appropriate amount of control over American troops during times of war and peace. However, over the course of the events immediately preceding the invasion of Iraq, the White House's lawyers issued an opinion that President Bush could order a preemptive attack against Iraq without a vote of approval from Congress, as specified by the Act, first citing (unsurprisingly) the president's status as commander in chief under Article II, Sec. 2 of the Constitution, the 1991 Gulf War resolution which they said still remained in effect, and perhaps most precedent-shattering, that the terms of the Sept. 14, 2001 congressional resolution approving military action against terrorism also remained in effect. Given that terrorism as a continuing world threat is unlikely to ever completely vanish, this could mean that the Act becomes effectively null and void, as almost any wartime invasion could be justified as taking action against terrorism.

Works Cited

Blanke, Herman J. "Theories of international organization: The realist, institutionalist and idealist school." Working paper 02. International Organizations

Winter 2008/09. April 30, 2009.

http://www2.uni-erfurt.de/staatsrecht/Lehre/ws0809-download/intorg/wp02_theor_IO.pdf

"Does Bush Need Congressional Okay to Invade Iraq?" U.S. Government About.com.

April 30, 2009.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa082702a.htm

Grimmett, Richard. "RL32267 -- The War Powers Resolution: After Thirty Years." March 11,

2004 April 30, 2009.

http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RL32267.html#_1_1

Halsall, Paul. "World System Theory." The Internet Modern History Sourcebook. 1997.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/wallerstein.html

Lithwick, Dahlia. "What War Powers Does the President Have?

Slate. September 13, 2001. April 30, 2009.

http://www.slate.com/id/1008290

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Blanke, Herman J. "Theories of international organization: The realist, institutionalist and idealist school." Working paper 02. International Organizations

Winter 2008/09. April 30, 2009.

http://www2.uni-erfurt.de/staatsrecht/Lehre/ws0809-download/intorg/wp02_theor_IO.pdf

"Does Bush Need Congressional Okay to Invade Iraq?" U.S. Government About.com.
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa082702a.htm
http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RL32267.html#_1_1
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/wallerstein.html
http://www.slate.com/id/1008290
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

International Relations International Law Falk
Words: 936 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

He feels that he last perspective explicitly adopts values that focus on justice and human dignity and strives to shape an emerging order of non-territorial central guidance to serve values associated with humanity as a whole, rather than promote the particular interests of favored religious, ethnic or geographic segments. Faulk's views of these perspectives are very straightforward and to the point. I think that the last perspective of a global

International Relations the Yugoslavian Civil
Words: 2363 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

Because of the army's status as Serbs, however, it aided only the rebels, leaving the Croats to fend for themselves. But the conflict did not stay within the boarders of Croatia. Instead, it pushed past the boundaries of Bosnia Herzegovina and led to one of the most bitter and bloodiest battles of the war, which included the Serbs and Yugoslavian People's Army fighting against the Croats and Muslims of Bosnia.

Treaty for Centuries, International Relations
Words: 1551 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

The Panamanians however, did get the short end of the stick for a really long time. The Panama Canal Treaty had an astonishing impact on international relations, such an impact, that it is still present today. Panama is the single-most busiest port in the world. With more ships trading there than in any other place, the financial boom that Panama should be receiving is now becoming apparent in Panama City's

Gender and International Relations International
Words: 10127 Length: 30 Document Type: Research Paper

57). Coker's article (published in a very conservative magazine in England) "reflected unease among some of his colleagues" about that new course at LSEP. Moreover, Coker disputes that fact that there is a female alternative to male behavior and Coker insists that "Whether they love or hate humanity, feminists seem unable to look it in the face" (Smith quoting Coker, p. 58). If feminists are right about the female nature being

Industrial Relations Discuss the Applicability
Words: 1581 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

" (Spangler, 2003) In this sort of positioning, "the gains and losses will all add up to less than zero," or the original position. For example, in the case of General Motors, the entire company had to be steeply cut, in all of its departments, and in the case of the New York Transit workers, there had to be budget cuts across the board in the New York City government.

Origins of Cold War
Words: 4564 Length: 15 Document Type: Research Paper

As a matter of fact, by the end of 1980s, Soviet Union ran on these very principles. Kennan criticized the possibilities that Soviets may be involved in invading the pro-Soviet countries with their mind sets and weaken them even if they do not form a higher level of apprehension for them. Pro-Russian countries will be weakened through a designed framework to tackle the mindsets of the people following western ideologies. Fights will be

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now