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:"Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?  It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.... we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies."  

:"Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?  It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.... we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies."  

The U.S. had a policy of isolationism toward the Soviet Union (1918-33), and toward Communist China (1949-71).

The U.S. had a policy of isolationism toward the Soviet Union (1918–33), and toward Communist China (1949–71).

===League of Nations===

===League of Nations===

Most Americans who belonged to Dispensationalist Fundamentalists, Calvinists, German Lutheran and Catholic churches opposed the League.  Ethnicity played a role, as German Lutherans and  German Catholics were especially hostile, as were Irish Catholics. There was some opposition from Methodist and Episcopalian ranks.  

Most Americans who belonged to Dispensationalist Fundamentalists, Calvinists, German Lutheran and Catholic churches opposed the League.  Ethnicity played a role, as German Lutherans and  German Catholics were especially hostile, as were Irish Catholics. There was some opposition from Methodist and Episcopalian ranks.  

Dispensationalists denounced the League as fulfilling the prophecy of a final world empire and as a sign of "human pretensions of self-sufficiency" in thinking that they could prevent the sin of war without God's help. Although many Calvinists backed the Social Gospel and therefore the League, conservatives, including Southern Baptists, Presbyterians, and Christian Reformed, counter-argued that such a human endeavor to improve the world without a Christian core doomed it to failure. Furthermore, they lamented the lack of mission language in the League charter and warned against cooperating with non-Christian states on an equal plane. The Missouri Synod Lutherans argued against such Social Gospel endeavors because of their amillennialist bent and insistence on the separation of church and state. Conservative Methodists and Episcopalians found themselves in the minority within denominations that publicly endorsed the League of Nations but nonetheless derided it as dangerously socialist and too divorced from Christianity for success.  Much of this rhetoric has reappeared in recent years in discussions of the United Nations.<ref> See Markku Ruotsila, ''The Origins of Christian Anti-Internationalism: Conservative Evangelicals and the League of Nations.'' (2008)</ref>

Dispensationalists denounced the League as fulfilling the prophecy of a final world empire and as a sign of "human pretensions of self-sufficiency" in thinking that they could prevent the sin of war without God's help. Although many Calvinists backed the Social Gospel and therefore the League, conservatives, including Southern Baptists, Presbyterians, and Christian Reformed, counter-argued that such a human endeavor to improve the world without a Christian core doomed it to failure. Furthermore, they lamented the lack of mission language in the League charter and warned against cooperating with non-Christian states on an equal plane. The Missouri Synod Lutherans argued against such Social Gospel endeavors because of their amillennialist bent and insistence on the separation of church and state. Conservative Methodists and Episcopalians found themselves in the minority within denominations that publicly endorsed the League of Nations but nonetheless derided it as dangerously socialist and too divorced from Christianity for success.  Much of this rhetoric has reappeared in recent years in discussions of the United Nations.<ref>See Markku Ruotsila, ''The Origins of Christian Anti-Internationalism: Conservative Evangelicals and the League of Nations.'' (2008)</ref>

===1930s===

===1930s===

Starting in 1933 with the [[World Economic Conference]], American public opinion and national policy policy was to minimize the risk of entering another war by isolationist laws, such as the Neutrality Laws.  President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], started in late 1937 to reverse the isolationist policies.  When [[World War I]] began in late 1939, the U.S. was officially neutral but gave significant military aid to Britain, France and China. It was only after the bombing of [[Pearl Harbor]] in December 1941 that the United States abandoned its isolationism and entered the war. See [[America First Committee]] for the 1940-41 debate on avoiding American entry into [[World War II]] in Europe.

Starting in 1933 with the [[World Economic Conference]], American public opinion and national policy policy was to minimize the risk of entering another war by isolationist laws, such as the Neutrality Laws.  President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], started in late 1937 to reverse the isolationist policies.  When [[World War I]] began in late 1939, the U.S. was officially neutral but gave significant military aid to Britain, France and China. It was only after the bombing of [[Pearl Harbor]] in December 1941 that the United States abandoned its isolationism and entered the war. See [[America First Committee]] for the 1940-41 debate on avoiding American entry into [[World War II]] in Europe.

In the 1930s the Republican party had an isolationist wing led by former President [[Herbert Hoover]] and Ohio Senator [[Robert A. Taft]].  

In the 1930s the Republican party had an isolationist wing led by former President [[Herbert Hoover]] and Ohio Senator [[Robert A. Taft]].  

===Cold War===

===Cold War===

During World War II, the internationalist wing of the GOP gained strength, as former isolationist Arthur Vandenberg switched sides.<ref> James A. Gazell, "Arthur H. Vandenberg, Internationalism, and the United Nations". ''Political Science Quarterly'' 1973 88(3): 375-394 </ref>  The Republicans controlled Congress when it approved the [[Truman Doctrine]] in 1947 and the [[Marshall Plan]] in 1948.

During World War II, the internationalist wing of the GOP gained strength, as former isolationist Arthur Vandenberg switched sides.<ref>James A. Gazell, "Arthur H. Vandenberg, Internationalism, and the United Nations". ''Political Science Quarterly'' 1973 88(3): 375-394</ref>  The Republicans controlled Congress when it approved the [[Truman Doctrine]] in 1947 and the [[Marshall Plan]] in 1948.

The leaders of the anti-isolationist or "internationalist" wing were [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] (president 1952-60), and [[Richard Nixon]] (president 1968-74).  Conservative leader [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964 rejected isolationism and called for an aggressive [[Rollback]] strategy to defeat Communism, a policy followed by [[Ronald Reagan]] (president 1980-88).   

The leaders of the anti-isolationist or "internationalist" wing were [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] (president 1952-60), and [[Richard Nixon]] (president 1968-74).  Conservative leader [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964 rejected isolationism and called for an aggressive [[Rollback]] strategy to defeat Communism, a policy followed by [[Ronald Reagan]] (president 1980-88).   

[[Korea]] was the "Hermit Kingdom" that largely cut itself off from all outside contacts until the 1880s.

[[Korea]] was the "Hermit Kingdom" that largely cut itself off from all outside contacts until the 1880s.

Today [[Burma]] (or Myanmar) and [[North Korea]] strictly limit contacts.  North Korea, however, has an aggressive foreign policy that threatens its neighbors South Korea and Japan--and also the U.S.--with missiles and perhaps even nuclear weapons.

Today [[Burma]] (or Myanmar) and [[North Korea]] strictly limit contacts.  North Korea, however, has an aggressive foreign policy that threatens its neighbors South Korea and Japan—and also the U.S.--with missiles and perhaps even nuclear weapons.

==Other countries==

==Other countries==

Since 1815 Switzerland has conspicuously distanced itself from the international community. It remained neutral in all wars. It has rejected membership in the UN and participation in the European Economic Area treaty and UN peacekeeping operations; and it remains outside the European Union.  It remains one of the world’s major banking centers, and serves as the neutral host of many international agencies and meetings.

Since 1815 Switzerland has conspicuously distanced itself from the international community. It remained neutral in all wars. It has rejected membership in the UN and participation in the European Economic Area treaty and UN peacekeeping operations; and it remains outside the European Union.  It remains one of the world’s major banking centers, and serves as the neutral host of many international agencies and meetings.

This starkly isolationist posture is the product of Swiss direct democracy. Swiss voters have repeatedly voted on issues of international integration. In five of the six cases, they delivered a sharp rebuff to the international community and to their own government.  One explanation focuses on the renewed linguistic cleavage between German speakers and French speakers. Also critical has been the desire to preserve a wide scope for Swiss direct democracy by rejecting binding international agreements. Finally, government campaign tactics have exacerbated popular opposition to international integration.<ref> Kris W. Kobach, "Spurn Thy Neighbour: Direct Democracy and Swiss Isolationism." ''West European Politics'' 1997 20(3): 185-211 </ref>  

This starkly isolationist posture is the product of Swiss direct democracy. Swiss voters have repeatedly voted on issues of international integration. In five of the six cases, they delivered a sharp rebuff to the international community and to their own government.  One explanation focuses on the renewed linguistic cleavage between German speakers and French speakers. Also critical has been the desire to preserve a wide scope for Swiss direct democracy by rejecting binding international agreements. Finally, government campaign tactics have exacerbated popular opposition to international integration.<ref>Kris W. Kobach, "Spurn Thy Neighbour: Direct Democracy and Swiss Isolationism." ''West European Politics'' 1997 20(3): 185-211</ref>  

== The British Empire ==

== The British Empire ==

[[United Kingdom|The British Empire]] followed a policy of "Splendid Isolation" during the 19th century. Britain tried to stay out of any major alliances whilst also trying to maintain a balance of power in mainland [[Europe]] so as to avoid any dominant power arising to threaten their overseas territories or Britain itself. This policy ended in 1904 with the signing of the [[Entente Cordiale]] between Britain, [[France]] and the [[Russia]]

[[United Kingdom|The British Empire]] followed a policy of "Splendid Isolation" during the 19th century. Britain tried to stay out of any major alliances whilst also trying to maintain a balance of power in mainland [[Europe]] so as to avoid any dominant power arising to threaten their overseas territories or Britain itself. This policy ended in 1904 with the signing of the [[Entente Cordiale]] between Britain, [[France]] and the [[Russia]]

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[List of military strategies and concepts]]

* [[List of military strategies and concepts]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

====references====

====References====

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