Republican Party Platform Calls for Cautious Participation in International Institutions
September 2, 2008
Recently, the Republican party drafted its 2008 Party Platform, which outlines its domestic and international agenda for the next 4 years. The Platform takes a guarded stance on international organizations, stating, “The United States participates in various international organizations which can, at times, serve the cause of peace and prosperity, but those organizations must never serve as a substitute for principled American leadership. Nor should our participation in them prevent our joining with other democracies to protect our vital national interests.” The Platform is expected to be adopted at the Republican National Convention, taking place from September 1-4 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Democratic party adopted its 2008 Party Platform (see Washington Report, 8/19/08) at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado late last month.
Platform Urges UN Reform and Increased Transparency
The Republican Platform stresses that as a member of the UN, the US should pay a fair, but not disproportionate, share of dues and should “never support a UN-imposed tax.” The Platform continues by calling on the UN to “reform its scandal-ridden and corrupt management and become more accountable and transparent in its operations and expenses.” In addition, the document states, “Discrimination against Israel at the UN is unacceptable,” and demands Israel’s “full acceptance and participation at all UN venues.”
Party Says UN Efforts Must Respect Institutions of Family and Marriage
The party’s Platform also states that the UN “has no mandate to promote radical social engineering” and therefore “any effort to address global social problems must respect the fundamental institutions of marriage and family.” The Platform continues, “We assert the rights of families in all international programs and will not fund organizations involved in abortion.” The Platform bases this position on the “long-held policy of the Republican Party known as the ‘Mexico City policy,’ which prohibits federal monies from being given to non-governmental organizations that provide abortions or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other countries.”
Platform Expresses Criticism of UN Treaties, ICC
The Platform asserts that in order for the US to be a successful international leader it must “uphold international law, including the laws of war, and update them when necessary.” Concerning international treaties, the Platform calls for the rejection of the “UN convention on women’s rights,”—more formally known as the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, or CEDAW—and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In addition, the Platform criticizes the Law of the Sea Treaty, expressing its “concern for US sovereignty” and “deep reservations about the regulatory, legal, and tax regimes inherent in the [Treaty].” The document expresses opposition to the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that in an effort to protect US service members from “ideological prosecutions” it “does not accept the jurisdiction of the [Court] over Americans.” The Platform expresses support for the American Servicemembers Protection Act, an anti-ICC law enacted in 2002, which includes prohibitions on US cooperation with the Court.
Calls for Reformed International Aid Policy
As a part of the party’s foreign policy plan, the Platform urges the US to aid the world’s poor and ensure that they benefit from globalization. The Platform calls for US development aid to focus on “high-impact goals,” including “fostering the rule of law through democratic government, emphasizing literacy and learning,” and “concentrating on the foundations for economic development,” such as microcredit lending and agricultural improvement. The Platform also states that maternal and child health must be priorities, especially in countries affected by epidemics of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Platform Recommends Foreign Aid, State Department Reform
The Platform calls for the development of “a strategy for foreign assistance that serves our national interest.” Specifically, this would include a review and improvement of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, that seeks to bring about an “alignment of foreign assistance policies… development of a consensus on what needs to be done to strengthen the non-military tools to further our national security goals….greater attention to core development programs…and greater accountability by recipient countries.”
The Platform continues by saying that in order to further advance US interests abroad, “America’s diplomatic establishment must energetically represent our country’s agenda to the world.” Describing our diplomatic abilities as an “integral part of America’s national security system,” the Platform calls for a thorough reform of the State Department’s structure “to ensure that promotions and appointments are based on performance.”
Platform Expresses Need for Continued Attention on Middle East, Iran
In the Middle East, the Platform notes that the momentum of change “has been in the right direction.” However, it urges the “continued isolation of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah because they do not meet the standards of the international community” and calls for the full implementation of all UN resolutions in Lebanon. On Iran, the Platform affirms that “the US government, in solidarity with the international community, will not allow the current regime in Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.”
Calls for Economy-Conscious Steps to Combat Climate Change
The Republican Platform urges that the issue of climate change be handled in a way that balances “environmental goals with economic growth.” According to the Platform, these steps must be “global in nature, based on sound science and technology, and should not harm the economy.” In addition, the Platform calls on both developed and developing economies, particularly India and China, to make significant contributions in dealing with climate change, stating, “It would be unrealistic and counterproductive to expect the US to carry burdens which are more appropriately shared by all.”
To view the Republican Party Platform in full, please click here.
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