Reagan: Religion, Morality, and US Foreign Policy

President Reagan was known for his strong opposition to the growth of communism and took a relatively active stance in pushing back Soviet influence worldwide, breaking the long-held "Containment" doctrine, which had prevailed since Truman's administration. For Reagan, the issue of the Cold War was not only a matter of achieving the position of world hegemon but also a clash between good and evil (US Department of State, 1985). Born in an Irish-catholic family, the role of religion has become essential in the eyes of Reagan (Lord, 2011). This circumstance can be most seen in one of his famous quotes, "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." This article will analyze Reagan's US foreign policy, emphasized by the abovementioned quote.

Reagan's political view focuses on the necessity of religion, primarily on the Christian faith. For him, the concept of freedom is unachievable without a strong upholding of God. In Reagan's belief, morality is founded upon religion, and thus religion and politics are necessarily related. His adherent opposition further shows this to the growing movement for secularization in the US, which he considered to have disrupted believers' ability to speak of and act according to their beliefs and apply moral teaching to public questions (Reagan, 2009). The quote "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under" underpins further his religious foundational philosophy and perspective in his decision-making.

The Cold War for Reagan was not only an issue of hegemonic threat but also a conflict between good and evil, as shown in his speech referencing the USSR as the "Evil Empire." Widely known for its anti-religious stance, communism has become more of a symbol of evil that must be eradicated and quickly prevented from spreading for Reagan's administration. Active actions in stumping out socialist insurgencies became the main focus of Reagan's foreign policy. The "Roll Back" strategy, which was first introduced in the 1950s by James Foster Dulles, was adopted, which can be best described in a directive made by the NSC (in US Department of State, 1985), which stated, "to contain and over time reverse Soviet expansionism." It utilizes a more subtle interventionist strategy shown in the US assistance in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan (Office of The Historian, n.d.). The American perception of international harmony further supports this policy. With conflicts considered abnormal, it further supports Reagan's viewpoint of the Cold War and the role of the USSR in this ongoing conflict, leading to the justification for such policy to be implemented (Hook & Spanier, 2019).

The US Constitution has made it clear that the President must lead in creating the American foreign policy (Spring, 2011). The quote, "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under," helps to show President Reagan's fundamental philosophy and viewpoint on the role of religion in states. This is further demonstrated by his foreign policy shift from the previous "Containment" doctrine to the "Roll Back" strategy, which has been primarily established on his intense devotion to Christianity and how he views the conflict as a matter of good and evil. The American perception of international harmony and conflicts can also be attributed to the support he received for his foreign policy in dealing with the Cold War, advancing his ability to fulfill his quest to win the Cold War. Ironically enough, this ambitious support mission that Reagan had been advocating for ultimately put the US into an encumbering foreign entanglement and constant state of conflict in the years to come.

Bibliography

Hook, S., Spanier, J., American Foreign Policy Since World War II, SAGE Publishing, 2019

Lord, J., Ronald Reagan's America, 1 February 2011, <https://spectator.org/ronald-reagans-america/>, accessed on 21 February 2020

Office of The Historian, Reagan's Foreign Policy, n.d., < https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/reaganforeignpolicy>, accessed on 21 February 2020

Spring, B., Who Makes American Foreign Policy, The Heritage Foundation, Washington DC, 2011

Reagan, R., Remarks at a Dallas Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast, American Rhetoric.com, 2009, < https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Ronald%20Reagan%20-%20Dallas%20Prayer%20Breakfast.pdf>, accessed on 21 February 2020

US Department of State,' Reagan's Doctrine, 1985, <https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/rd/17741.htm>, accessed on 20 February 2020