Rene Alaniz

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The Higher Circles “How the Power Elite Make Foreign Policy” by William Domhoff N.Y. Vintage Books,1971

 

Main Point

This essay points out how American Foreign Policy is shaped by a select group of people comprised out of a powerful elite, whose main agenda is to serve the interests of rich upper class Business and their heirs.

 

Summary

The power elite are essentially an upper class who grew up with distinct educational goals and social institutions only available to a select few. This small group tends to have a huge stake in some of the biggest corporations in the U.S. These individuals form think tanks that are funded by corporations and similar charitable foundations whose interests are well addressed. Their directives serve as guides not only for foreign policy, but the shaping of public opinion. The power elite formed think tanks are breeding grounds for future leaders of America.

 

 

 

·        The Council of Foreign Relations(CFR)

CFR was described as a politically non-partisan middleman between large corporations and the federal government. The CFR was called the “school of statesman” by Washington journalist Joseph Kraft. The CFR was basically a place where new thoughts could be tested with huge financial backing by large corporations and foundations. These new ideas were passed along to the appropriate people in power. CFR was compromised of corporate executives, bankers, and lawyers. The CFR had been a place of recruitment for cabinet members in Washington for both the Democrats and Republicans. The council was responsible for ideas relating to the Marshall Plan, guidelines for NATO and the view of communist China.

 

·        RAND Corporation and Committee for Economic Development(CED)

The CED is a tax free research organization that worked hand in hand with the CFR. CED’s main concern involved problems dealing with monetary and economic issues involving the Departments of Treasury and Commerce. It was organized in the 1940’s to prepare for conversion into a civilian economy after war. Provisions such as the Employment Act of 1946 were born through the CED. Many of the men who served on the CED committee moved into government to initiate the Marshall Plan. The best known of these elite groups is the RAND Corporation which was started as think tank for the Air Force. It expanded and now is able to service the entire federal government with its staff who are well educated and well paid. Walt W. Rostow of the MIT group became one of the leading advisors to the democratic party in the 1960’s. During his time spent with RAND he wrote “non-communist manifesto” Stages of Economic Growth. It was procedure for people at the time writing books to make two copy’s one available for the intelligence community and one for the public.

 

·        The National Security Council(NSC)

The NSC was formed by the power elite to help coordinate the military and various other departments during World War Two. It use has varied depending on the President in office. President Nixon used the NSC as the basis on foreign policy. President Kennedy dismantled the group and gave more power to the individual departments. The NSC was an agency that few Americans even knew existed even though it played a major role in shaping foreign policy. The Council was made up of key figures within huge powerful corporations such as Robert McNamara of Ford Motor Company. Key decisions were made by NSC, such as American reactions during the two week period of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

 

·        State and Defense Departments

The State and Defense Departments were part of the process which made up the NSC’s foreign policy. Many of the big positions were held in the State and Defense Departments were held by members of the power elite. Evidence also exists that the power elite reached even deeper than policy level decisions.

 

·        Special Government Committees

Special commissions or citizen committees are task forces which are made up by the President. These task forces are made up by the power elite and are important in understanding how they influence foreign policy. The Gaither committee was appointed by President Eisenhower to look at American military preparedness. Rowan Gaither for which the committee was named for was a key Ford Foundation member who also helped organize the RAND Corporation.

 

·        The Military and Foreign Policy

The Gaither Committee can be used as an example because it challenged existing military policy and induced changes in it. The use of Samuel P. Huntington study The Common Defense in response to soviet nuclear tests can be seen as clear evidence to the power elite at work. The U.S. response was general rearmament which Huntington described during his case studies in Columbia.

 

·        Congress and Foreign Policy

The key issue is that Congress is seldom used when it comes to making Foreign Policy. The veto power of Congress can also be manipulated when the power elite makes an effort to get something passed. The only time when Congress veto powers are important is due to the fact that the power elite do not agree. An example can be seen during the 1950’s when the power elite wanted a reduction on taxes. The Congress was able to stall the reduction of taxes lobbied by the National Trade Policy Committee. The power elite finally agreed as a collective body by making special concessions to each other and the bill finally passed. Foreign policies put forth to Congress usually are never shaped by Congress. The power elite have a way of drumming up support and defeating the veto power of congress.

 

·        Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

The opinion-leaders are the ones responsible for shaping the public opinion. These people may or may not be the ones whose decisions determine foreign policy. Public opinion is shaped by foreign policies that come from the power elite. The President and the executive branch are the instruments through which the power elite shape public opinion. The power elite shapes public opinion by using mass media to show advertisements financed by large corporations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Conclusion:

The power elite shapes foreign policy through participation in key government positions. Using appointed committees and think tanks to come up with policy making ideas the power elite can form an impressions on government and society. It is through their education and social background along with major financial backing the power elite can accomplish their agenda.