Book contents
- Perceptions of State
- Perceptions of State
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Background Literature
- 3 State Compliance with International Law
- 4 Compliance by the United States
- 5 The Role of International Law in State Department Policymaking
- 6 The Trump Administration and International Law in the State Department
- 7 Conclusion
- Appendix Interview Subjects
- Index
6 - The Trump Administration and International Law in the State Department
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 June 2024
- Perceptions of State
- Perceptions of State
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Tables
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Background Literature
- 3 State Compliance with International Law
- 4 Compliance by the United States
- 5 The Role of International Law in State Department Policymaking
- 6 The Trump Administration and International Law in the State Department
- 7 Conclusion
- Appendix Interview Subjects
- Index
Summary
Chapter Six looks at the role of international law in the Trump administration State Department. Former policymakers gave their opinion on the extent of the effect of the Trump administration on State Department policymaking and discussed potential long-term effects. The Trump administration generally displayed a negative view toward international law, institutions, and agreements, as evidenced by its words and in its actions, a view at odds with the prevailing State Department culture. More significantly, the Trump administration took unusual steps to stifle dissent within the State Department. Former officials expressed a range of perceptions regarding the Trump administration’s effect on the State Department. A minority believed that the administration’s views and actions significantly affected attitudes and practices within the Department regarding international law and institutions. The majority believed that effects on attitudes were more likely to be felt at the policy-decision level, rather than at the lower, policy development level. That is, attitudes among rank-and-file and career State Department officials probably remained unchanged and were likely to “bounce back” after the 2020 election. Nevertheless, a reprise of the Trump administration, or a similar administration, could ultimately affect not only practices at the State Department but attitudes among officials as well.
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- Perceptions of StateThe US State Department and International Law, pp. 197 - 233Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024