The Aporia
The Aporia
MacLean, A. (2026, August 28). Our Foreign Policy Divide Began with the Korean War. The Free Press. https://www.thefp.com/p/school-of-war-korean-war-foreign-policy
MacLean, Aaron. “Our Foreign Policy Divide Began with the Korean War.” The Free Press, 28 Aug. 2026, https://www.thefp.com/p/school-of-war-korean-war-foreign-policy.
MacLean, Aaron. “Our Foreign Policy Divide Began with the Korean War.” The Free Press, August 28, 2026. https://www.thefp.com/p/school-of-war-korean-war-foreign-policy.
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The 75-year-old Korean War continues to influence American foreign policy, with its lessons still relevant today. Historian Dane J. Cash, author of "The Forgotten Debate: The Korean War and the Roots of America's Ideological Divisions", suggests that the current divisions in US foreign policy are reminiscent of those during the Korean War era. Specifically, he argues that there is a similar split between "hawks" (those who advocate for military intervention) and "doves" (those who favor a more isolationist approach). This dichotomy has persisted since the war, shaping the country's stance on modern global conflicts. Cash's book explores this forgotten debate and its lasting impact on US foreign policy. The current divisions are not necessarily about issues like communism or socialism vs. capitalism, but rather about the proper role of American power in the world.
