isolationism - Introduction, Isolationism by country

A foreign policy strategy of withdrawing from international affairs as long as the country's interests are not affected. It is a means of avoiding involvement in international conflicts, and implies neutrality in most cases. It was practised by the USA, which kept out of the League of Nations, World War 1, and World War 2 until attacked by the Japanese, and has long been associated with Switzerland.

Isolationism is a foreign policy which combines a non-interventionist military and a political policy of economic nationalism (protectionism). In other words, it asserts both of the following:

Non-interventionism - Political rulers should avoid entangling alliances with other nations and avoid all wars not related to direct territorial self-defense.

Introduction

"Isolationism" has always been a debated political topic. Whether or not a country should be or should not be isolationist affects both living standards and the ability of political rulers to benefit favored firms and industries.

All the first world countries (the UK, United States, etc.) trade in a world economy. Free trade between countries allows each country to do what it does best, and benefit from the products and services that others do best.

On the other hand, non-interventionism generally benefits a country by reducing both military spending (as it is limited to defensive purposes) and the chances of provoking an attack (by not meddling in foreign intrigue.)

Isolationism by country

Japan

From 1641 to 1853, the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan enforced a policy which it called sakoku. however, in the absence of modernization, Japan eventually fell prey to foreign powers, and the harsh regime of economic and military development that Japan subsequently imposed on itself worked to modernize and militarize Japanese society.

New Zealand

Under the Muldoon government a high level of protectionism was in place.

United States

Following the sacrifices in the World War I, the United States population turned to isolationism during the 1920s, opposing any action by the government that would drag the country into another European war.