Professional paper
CIA´s Covert Actions as a Component of U.S. Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era
Mirko Bilandžić
Abstract
Due to international relations after the World War II, covert actions have become a significant instrument of American foreign policy. The responsibility to conduct covert actions lies within the authority of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Based on its results - successful conduct of covert actions and realization of American national interests - the CIA has become an important instrument, not only in executing American foreign policy, but also in playing a role in international relations. Covert actions, although being very efficient means for achieving national interests, are in fact an interventionst mechanism. Therefore, nearly all the activities the CIA conducted/conducts in that respect were/are illegal. In the post-Cold War era, the substance of covert actions did not change. On the other hand, their role and significance within the scope of American national security instruments altered to some degree. In post-Cold War era the U.S. wanted to consolidate their position of a single super power (uniploar world) and consequently changed their attitude towards the way of achieving their national security and foreign policy goals. Covert actions still remainded a significant instrument in achieving golas. Moreover, it seems that in the period after 1990. their indispensability continued to rise, but as opposed to the previous phase, covert actions are no longer the only and the most efficient means since military actions now got the major role in achieving American strategic goals.
Keywords
United States of America; Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); American national security; American foreign policy; Cold War; post-Cold War era; covert actions
Hrčak ID:
4724
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2005.
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