Two days ago in our Facing Global Challenges class, I introduced Pomona College professor Professor Mietek Boduszyński. As a former U.S. diplomat with the U.S. State Department in Albania, Kosovo, Japan, Egypt, Libya and Iraq, Professor Boduszyński gave an incredibly informative lecture on U.S. Foreign Policy with Israel.
At the start of his presentation, Professor Boduszyński talked to us about the US and our allies. Discussing both NATO and SEATO, we learned about the differences between allies bound by treaties and those bound by shared interests. The latter is the case in U.S.-Israel relations. Specifically, both nations have an interest in countering Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East. He mentioned how the start of Israeli-US relations felt a lot more realist than they do now. Comparing the relationship between the U.S. and its allies as sibling-like, Professor Boduszyński discussed how the U.S. acts towards allies when they go against our ideals; unlike how we would treat our adversaries, we don't generally sanction or cut off threads between the nations, rather we engage in dialogue and threaten sanctions but don't follow through. After listening to Professor Boduszyński, I realized that the U.S.'s obligation to Israel was more complicated than I initially thought, and he underscored how U.S. financial and military aid to Israel serves as a cornerstone of this relationship. However, he also talked about the impact of domestic pressure from U.S. lobbying groups to protect Israel and provide it with arms.
When asked about the role of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in shaping U.S. foreign policy, Professor Boduszyński highlighted the impact domestic politics have on international decisions and U.S. foreign policy. He stated that if it weren't for the political influence of these organizations, then the U.S. might very well have adopted a highly more critical stance toward Israel's policies, particularly regarding Palestine. This connection and impact between both domestic and international individuals illuminates the complex, behind-the-scenes forces that often drive foreign relations.
I was so grateful for Professor Boduszyński’s lecture. I've been interested in International Relations for a while now, especially the recent history in Israel/Palestine, but, coming into this lecture, I had poor knowledge of US foreign policy and relations. By listening to Boduszynski and hearing about his firsthand experience combined with his deep understanding of U.S. foreign policy, I feel like I left the classroom with so much more knowledge, but also so much more curiosity.
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