Introduction Big stick ideology, big stick diplomacy, or big stick policy refers to President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy, “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far”. Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as “the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis”. As… Read More
Introduction The United States (US) has been involved in numerous foreign interventions throughout its history. By the broadest definition of military intervention, the US has engaged in nearly 400 military interventions between 1776 and 2023, with half of these operations occurring since 1950 and over 25% occurring in the post-Cold War period. The objectives for… Read More
Introduction In international politics, the term gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power, implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare should terms not be agreeable to the superior force. Etymology The term “gunboat diplomacy” comes from the nineteenth-century period of imperialism, when… Read More
Introduction The Point Four Program was a technical assistance programme for “developing countries” announced by United States President Harry S. Truman in his inaugural address on 20 January 1949. It took its name from the fact that it was the fourth foreign policy objective mentioned in the speech. Refer to Marshall Plan. Background By 1947… Read More
Introduction The Foreign Operations Administration was created in 1953 under the directorship of Harold Stassen. Its purpose “was intended to centralize all governmental operations, as distinguished from policy formulation, that had as their purpose the cooperative development of economic and military strength among the nations of the free world”. It was abolished by Executive Order… Read More
Introduction The Mutual Security Act of 1951 launched a major American foreign aid programme, 1951-1961, of grants to numerous countries. It largely replaced the Marshall Plan. The main goal was to help poor countries develop and to contain the spread of communism. It was signed on 10 October 1951, by President Harry S. Truman. Annual… Read More
What is the All Arms Commando Course? Detailed information on the All Arms Commando Course (AACC) can be found here. The AACC is undertaken at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone, on the South coast of England. Emphasis is on fitness and stamina, and all students must be physically prepared on arrival. Students… Read More
Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute 