Low priority for foreign policy issues arises from the fact that the American people have lost interest on the subject as the fall of the Berlin Wall withered away the communist threat to national security. The demise of the Soviet Union has been interpreted by the American people as the emergence of a more secure and stable world. The majority of voters therefore seem to support a significant focus on domestic affairs. Also the prolonged economic boom of the United States raises the stake in favor of domestic affairs as opposed to foreign policy. The United States is at the height of its power and going into the first election in the new century.
Power is a resource to guarantee the protection and expansion of national interest.
I would say that the United States has successfully faced this challenge by developing alliances in every region that should ultimately provide support in securing peace, stability and economic growth. The task however is by no means completed and stronger regional alliances need to be developed with a more effective institutional framework that would better promote conflict resolution, interest aggregation and furthering of trade and investment in the emerging markets. These nations are the best trading partners of the US and the stronger they become from the democratic and economic view point the larger their contribution will be to a sustainable US leadership. No I do not detect as yet an anti Americanism at all. But what is clearly beginning to surface is certain impatience with the ability of economic reforms to touch the daily lives of the common citizens.