Post-Vietnam Limits, New Opportunities, and the Dilemma of American Unilateralism

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Post-Vietnam Limits, New Opportunities, and the Dilemma of American Unilateralism
The United States experienced many international and domestic problems on the heels of the Vietnam War fiasco. The United States was served a heavy blow by OPEC through an oil embargo in the international arena. Considering the critical role played by oil in supplying the energy needed for production, transport, and other sectors, an oil embargo significantly threatened the economy of the United States. The War also painted a dire picture for the United States government. The picture was not good, especially now that the United States had established itself as one of the best democratic nations in the world. Due to the tainted international image, the country had the challenge of re-establishing diplomatic relationships with most countries around the world. The Nixon administration had a tough time when trying to restore diplomatic relationships with the Soviet Union and China. The international community was not happy that the United States could not address the prevalent human rights concerns in these countries.
The other problem that the United States faced on the international front was the rise of anti-American sentiment. Several countries around the world were championing the sentiment, most notably those who subscribed to the communist form of government. The United States had to do a lot of work to recounter these sentiments. Otherwise, they would have spread like bushfire, which would have pitted the United States against many countries. In addition, the War tainted the existing notion that America had great military strength. The War heightened doubts on whether America had the military strength it purported to have.
On the domestic front, the War caused severe problems. One of these problems was a declining economy. The War had consumed numerous resources. These resources were directed toward funding the military capability for the Vietnam War. Due to the immense investment in the War, several economic challenges arose in the United States. The challenges included high inflation, increasing unemployment rates, and the government experiencing a high deficit in its budget. The economic downturn had far-reached ramifications. It heightened the existing social class battles and led to widespread protests nationwide. Economic hardships made a significant portion of the population struggle to meet their basic needs. Therefore, protests and widespread tensions across the country were common during and after the Vietnamese War.
As is common with most wars, the Vietnamese War also significantly impacted the veterans returning from War. The most notable issue affecting the veterans returning from the War was deteriorating mental health. Most veterans experience psychological trauma. Others also experienced physical deformities they had to contend with for the rest of their lives. Upon returning home, it was difficult for these veterans to get a job, especially due to the harsh economic situation. In light of these observations, the United States faced significant problems at the heels of the Vietnam War. The issues cut across the international and domestic fronts.
Administration of Carter and Reagan
The administrations of Reagan and Carter addressed the issues arising from the War in distinct ways. Carter was elected president in 1977. He sought to address the issues arising from the War through a human rights and diplomacy approach. Carter was convinced that the best strategy to regain the credibility of the United States on the international and domestic front was to use proper leadership and advocate for the democratic principle that America had hitherto advocated for. Therefore, Carter focused on a widespread campaign to paint America as a country that respects human rights and one that respects the principles of democracy. As shown in the previous section, the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War led to widespread criticism concerning human rights violations and...