Foreign policy philosophies

There are three major schools of foreign policy in the US. Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian schools of thought originated in the late 18th century, while Wilsonian emerged after WWI. While other nations have other models for foreign policy, many of them roughly map onto these philosophies.

Hamiltonian

• Sees the purpose of foreign policy as a means to economic growth.
• Central government plays the dominant role in trade deals and alliances.
• A primary goal of the military is to protect trade routes and economic assets.
• Otherwise mostly neutral on the world stage.

Jeffersonian

• Essentially isonalitionist. Limited central government role in international affairs. Protectionist and therefore generally anti-trade.
• Anti-interventionism. Pro-neutrality.
• Military exists for defence purposes only.

Wilsonian

• Sees the purpose of foreign policy as to spread democracy and human rights globally. Emerged after WWI.
• International cooperation and multilateral organisations. Trade conforms to philosophical alignment between states.
• Willing to use military force for humanitarian purposes, but preference for diplomacy for conflict resolution.
• Roots of neoconservatism and liberal internationalism, with the former leaning into intervention and the latter leaning into ideologically-driven trade and international bodies.
• Team America, World Police.