Opinion: 'America First' isolationism is destructive to nation's economy and security
America has long been active in world affairs, especially since the end of World War II. The U.S. played a key role in establishing the United Nations in 1948 and in organizing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international bodies dedicated to promoting trade and security. However, there have been voices in America that promoted isolationism. For example, after World War I, Republicans blocked American participation in the League of Nations. Even today, the former President and the MAGA movement are highly critical of those they call “globalists,” by which they mean people who are interested in strengthening international relations and helping other nations as we are able. Isolationist thinking has used the term “America First.” But there are many reasons why America needs to be active in the larger world.
Most importantly, American security relies on the alliances and security commitments we have made to maintain peace and order in the world. The post-World War II rules base order has expanded prosperity around the world by utilizing security to protect free trade. The American economy is highly dependent on successful exporting and American consumers love their access to imports of products from around the world. This trade could not be safely conducted without the security agreements with our allies. Converting to isolationism would lower living standards, not just for Americans but for people around the world. “America First” isolationism and protectionism would be destructive to our economy, as well as to our security.
Another, possibly more important, reason for American involvement in the world stems from our core beliefs and values. Our country was founded on the principle that all people are created equal. Freedom and liberty, things we often take for granted because we’ve had them almost 250 years, are not available to people in many countries. Yet if we truly believe they are essential to decent human living, then we should be promoting them whenever and wherever we can. Of course, our values cannot be imposed on people like some systems of government, such as we have seen in the last century and still today in many autocracies. Human choice will always be fallible and subject to human bad intentions, especially related to the desire for wealth and power. However, democracy was constructed to allow for correction and improvement. Nations that do not incorporate democratic systems do not allow for the possibility of variety in human choice of their own leadership. They are not truly self-governing and cannot be self-correcting. America has only been able to correct itself of its injustices because of maintaining its democracy.
By attacking globalists in America, the people with isolationist tendencies are denying the implications of the American vision. Isolationism is counter to the basic beliefs and commitments of America to be a land of equality for all people. It also hinders the American effort to maintain its democracy in a world where anti-democratic and non-democratic forces seek to hinder, block, and even destroy democracies. In other words, it is evident that those who deny American internationalism and promote isolationism are denying the American basic belief that all people are created equal and deserving of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We cannot enforce our belief in these great truths on others, but there is good evidence that people yearn to live under these truths rather than under autocratic systems imposed upon them. International involvement aimed at aiding and lifting others is a way of carrying forward our own beliefs and the democracy based upon them. Our beliefs in these truths impel us to be involved with all the people and nations of the world to aid them as we are able in their struggles to live in freedom and justice. We believe these truths are not just for us as Americans to live by. They are for all people because “all people were created equal.”
So, the next time you hear complaints about “globalists” and “internationalists”, I hope you will remember that not only do we Americans benefit from the prosperity and security that “globalism” brings, we also have an interest in spreading freedom and liberty to more and more of the world because those are our guiding principles. Producing peace, prosperity and security begins by pushing back on the illiberal forces of autocracy around the world, which appear to be on the march. It is essential and self-rewarding to promote our values on the world stage, as we have done.
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Rev. Robert L. Montgomery, Ph.D., lives in Black Mountain.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Americans benefit from prosperity and security of globalism
