The Eisenhower Administration Analysis Of Western European Integration Policy

The main substance in this thesis is the American foreign policy to the Western European Integration during Eisenhower's governance. It analyzes the reason and the result of this foreign policy of the United States. Through this analysis, we can see this foreign policy makes America in a dilemma. In the end, the United States would have to adjust its diplomacy to the Western European Integration according to its own actual strength and the changing situation of the world in 1960s.The whole thesis is divided into five parts. The first part is concentrated on the background of the Eisenhower Administration's Western European policy. After World War II, the American strength had expanded rapidly. The U. S. policymakers gradually formulated "the global expansion strategy" . Guiding by this strategy, the U.S. drafted " the Atlantic Alliance policy" , which included Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, the Point Four Program and NATO. Western European Integration started in 1950 and received support from Truman Administration. The Eisenhower Administration, Truman's successor, carried on this foreign policy.The second part is focused on the Eisenhower Administration's foreign policy to the European Defense Community. Korea War broke out in 1950 and strengthened the fear of Western countries to Soviet Union. The U. S. asked for the rearmament of Germany. Under this background, France Foreign Minister Pleven put forward " European Army Plan" . Building a united armed force in Western Europe could not only utilize the might of West Germany, but also relieve American government's burden. Then the Eisenhower Administration used all kinds of means to force the ratification of the Pleven Plan. Dulles even menaced that America would agonize reappraise its diplomacy to Europe. Last, Pleven Plan still fell through. In order to achieve the object of rearming West Germany, the Eisenhower Administration adopted Eden's advice. West Germany accomplished rearmament and America completed the program of NATO.The third part interprets the Eisenhower Administration's new policy to the " re-launching" of the Western European Integration after 1955. In this period, the U. S. still supported the Western European Integration positively. The Eisenhower Administration thought the Euratom was prior to the EEC by some reasons of security and politics. The American attitude pushed forward the re-launch of the Western European Integration. With the development of the Western European Integration, its economic strength and political position had improved rapidly. The American anxiety was up. In this period, the Eisenhower Administration carried out more cautious policy.The fourth part is devoted to probing into the cause of the Eisenhower Administration's foreign policy from three angles. Among American foreign relations, enlargement becomes the main stream. The idea of " double containment to Soviet Union and Germany" had priority in all kinds of foreign policies under the background of the Cold War. Moreover, the need of American benefit of economy and pressure from Europe made the U. S. adopt the policy of backing the Western European Integration. In the meantime, the worriment to European might and the need of American seeking hegemony over the World forced the American government to carry out discreet and limited policy.The fifth part is the thesis' conclusion. It analyzes the essence and the intention of this foreign policy. Then, it discusses the policy' s influence on America, Western Europe and the course of the Cold War. At last, the thesis points out that the result of American contradictory foreign policy hindered its control over the world. The policy was in a dilemma. In order to adapt the new situation and bring about its fixed policy, the U. S. would have to adjust its diplomacy to Western Europe in 1960s.