Assess President Carter’s commitment to his goal of emphasizing “human

Assess President Carter’s commitment to his goal of emphasizing “human rights” in his foreign policy. Was he consistent in its application as a guideline? Why? Is “human rights” a practical policy for the conduct of American diplomac

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER
Human rights has been a basic commitment in the American credo throughout its history. Carter hoped to make this thoroughly American concern for human rights an integral part of the nation’s foreign policy. He was not very successful, although he used it to try to pressure South Africa into giving up apartheid, but he ignored the human rights violations of Iran when he toasted the Shah’s government. Whether the United States should base its foreign policy strictly on national self-interests or give it moral content like human rights has long been a controversy among the nation’s leaders.