rhetoric in attempt to counter the Soviet attack in Afghanistan, before, Carter had ‘championed a post-Cold War foreign policy before the Cold War was over.’ 172 His policy moved away from the ideal of East-West competition and containment while promoting American power for the betterment of the globe. By endorsing human rights Carter was attempting to bring peace and stability. He moved attention away from the Soviets and sought to resolve issues in regions through diplomacy. His promotion of peace brought morality back into American policy that aligned more with ideals of freedom and liberty, which had been severely dampened following Vietnam and Watergate. As Herring notes, ‘Carter’s emphasis on Human Rights contributed to improving the global image of the United States. It gave the issue of international credibility, helping to set the agenda for world politics for the next decade.’ 173 He advocated for majority rule in Southern Africa to remove white supremacy and give a voice to the mass populations. Moreover, the attempt to give greater autonomy to Panama, and allow for the democratic process to transpire in Nicaragua was an endeavor to improve relations with Latin American countries. His admirable attempts to bring peace in the increasingly hostile middle-east region were based on the administrations regionalist ideals, rather than global. Peace, of course, was in the U.S. interests, but it was also vital to ensure people in the region could attempt to live without fear and war. The human rights approach to the Soviet Union marked a stark contrast to 172 Douglas Brinkley, Rising Stock of Jimmy Carter : The ‘Hands on Legacy” Legacy of Our Thirty-ninth President , p.522. 173 George C. Herring, From Colony to Superpower: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1776 (Oxford University Press: Oxford; New York), p.847.
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