The mishaps of US foreign policy towards Asia: a neoclassical realist analysis of Asia Pivot under Barack Obama (2009-2016)

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyse the “Asia Pivot” US policy during Barack Obama’s government (2008-2016) through the lenses of Neoclassical Realism. With that in mind, this article analyses the leadership perceptions regarding threats and opportunities in East Asia, as well as domestic pressures that influenced the development, implementation and actions of the policy during the Obama administration. The article also analyses how the Asia Pivot policy affected the East Asian countries’ perception regarding US commitment with the region. From the methodology point of view, the article follows a qualitative approach, based in primary and secondary sources as the base of the research arguments. The article concludes that US budget problems, the rise of new leaderships against US expenditure and security actions in other countries, as well as issues involving the US internal power balance, affected in a negative way the Pivot policy. As the policy developed, doubts regarding US willingness and capacity to act in East Asia affected the perception of countries in the region, fuelling militarization processes and security dilemmas in the Asian theater.

Keywords

• pivot to asia
• neoclassical realism
• usa
• international security