1A 'If You Can Keep It': American Intervention Abroad
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Jan 12, 2026 Paul Post, a political science professor focused on U.S. foreign policy, Rachel Myrick, a Duke University professor researching public opinion on foreign affairs, and Andra Gillespie, a political analyst from Emory University, dive into the complexities of American military interventions. They discuss Trump's Venezuela actions as a modern reflection of 19th-century doctrines and the potential political implications for his administration. The panel examines whether foreign interventions serve to distract from domestic issues and the risks of unilateralism in global relations.
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Trump's 19th-Century Style Intervention
- The Trump administration frames Venezuela action as a 19th-century style assertion of regional control via a modern "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine.
- This signals a shift from restraint rhetoric to unilateral, hemisphere-focused interventionism.
Senate Push Is Symbolic Check
- Senators advanced a measure to limit Trump's military action, reflecting congressional concern about separation of powers.
- The action is largely symbolic because of procedural hurdles and the likely presidential veto.
Unilateral, Transactional Worldview
- Trump's foreign policy is confrontational, transactional, and unilateral, rejecting multilateral institutions and longstanding alliances.
- This marks a clear departure from recent administrations' reliance on international law and alliances.