Summary of Morality and Foreign Policy by George Kennan

In Morality and Foreign Policy George F. Kennan sets forth a proposal for a U.S. foreign policy that is based on a universal standard of morality. This standard defines being moral as upholding one's own beliefs without expecting others to conform to those beliefs. Being that morality can easily take on a different shape in each country, Kennan attempts to use this universal standard to define what U.S. morality should be.

He explains that the U.S. government must base its policies on what the populous finds moral and not on the beliefs of any passing minority or individual. He points out that this set of morals will not reflect any other country's morals because there is not an international authority on what is moral and what is not.

When other's morals conflict with ours and endanger our interests, the U.S. can and should react. However, the U.S. has a history of reacting to objections regarding the internal morality of nations. The U.S. often pursues these objections under the guise of spreading democracy which Kennan argues is not our responsibility. U.S. interests should not be passed off as morality for all. He explains that then we are often unwelcoming to the prospect of bearing the responsibility for the damage our involvement has caused.

Kennan ends by suggesting several overarching morals by which the U.S. government should abide. First he outlines what the U.S. should not do. We should not strive to appeal moral because we will fall prey to our own self-adoration. Also, the U.S. must end its policy of using intelligence and secrecy in international relations and take on an open and honest demeanor. Kennan then outlines what the U.S. should do.

He claims the true mark of morality is accepting our limitations. Therefore, in a time when the U.S. is going through great internal struggle, namely financial disarray, we cannot fully implement our full resources to promote our interests in foreign policy. Finally, Kennan emphasizes the importance that our morals include the protection of this planet against nuclear war and the abuse of the environment for future generations.