Question

In 3–5 points, explain the United States’ role in global conflict during Bill Clinton’s administration, and evaluate whether the administration was successful at achieving its goals. Choose 1–2 examples to support your response using the text below.

For decades, the Cold War had largely shaped U.S. action abroad. Strategists saw each coup, revolution, and civil war as part of the larger struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. But with the Soviet Union subdued, President Clinton could focus on other international crises. There were hot spots in the Middle East, the Balkans, and Africa. Clinton envisioned a post–Cold War world with the United States preserving the peace, using its overwhelming military superiority and influence as global policing tools. This foreign policy strategy had both success and failure. One notable success was a level of peace in the Middle East brought about by the Oslo Accords signed in 1993. The agreement granted some self-rule to Palestinians living in the Israeli-occupied territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Meanwhile, violence erupted in the Balkans. In May 1980, the leader of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, died. Without him to hold the country together, ethnic tensions increased. This, along with the breakdown of communism elsewhere in Europe, led to the breakup of Yugoslavia. In 1991, the Yugoslav provinces of Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence. Bosnia and Herzegovina followed in 1992. The provinces of Serbia and Montenegro remained united as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Almost immediately, ethnic tensions within Bosnia and Herzegovina escalated. Yugoslavian Serbs aided Bosnian Serbs who did not wish to live in an independent Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the war that followed, the Serbs engaged in genocide. Some called this “ethnic cleansing.” NATO intervened in 1995. Clinton agreed to U.S. participation in air strikes against Bosnian Serbs. That same year, the Dayton Accords peace settlement was signed in Dayton, Ohio. Four years later, the United States joined with other NATO members to launch an air campaign against Serbian-dominated Yugoslavia. They wanted to stop the Serbs from attacking ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. These efforts were not sanctioned by the UN and were criticized by Russia and China. However, Yugoslavia did withdraw its forces from Kosovo in June 1999.

Answer 1

During Bill Clinton's administration, the United States played a significant role in various global conflicts, focusing on fostering peace and stability in the post-Cold War era. Here are several key points regarding U.S. involvement and the outcomes of its actions:

1. **Focus on Global Peacekeeping**: With the Cold War's conclusion, Clinton aimed to reposition the U.S. as a global peacekeeper, using military might and diplomatic influence to address conflicts in various regions, such as the Middle East, the Balkans, and Africa.

2. **Success in Middle East Diplomacy**: One of Clinton's notable successes was facilitating the Oslo Accords in 1993, which aimed to grant Palestinians some self-governance in territories occupied by Israel. This initiative demonstrated U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Middle East and contributed to a temporary reduction in tensions.

3. **Intervention in the Balkans**: In response to the escalating violence and ethnic cleansing during the Bosnian War, Clinton's administration authorized U.S. air strikes against Bosnian Serbs in 1995, which played a crucial role in negotiating the Dayton Accords that established a fragile peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

4. **NATO Action in Kosovo**: The administration led NATO's military intervention in Kosovo in 1999, aimed at stopping the persecution of ethnic Albanians by Serbian forces. Although this action was not sanctioned by the UN and faced criticism, it ultimately resulted in the withdrawal of Serbian troops and the establishment of a NATO-led peacekeeping force.

5. **Mixed Outcomes**: While the administration achieved key diplomatic milestones in the Middle East and intervened effectively in the Balkans, its global policing strategy also faced challenges, including criticism over unilateralism and the repercussions of intervening without UN backing. The long-term stability of the regions involved remained complex and fraught with ongoing tensions.

Overall, Clinton's foreign policy saw both significant successes, such as the Oslo Accords and the resolution of the Bosnian conflict through the Dayton Accords, as well as notable challenges related to interventionist strategies that raised international concerns.