Foreign policy axis: Cooperation vs Strength
This axis is about how a country should deal with the wider world. Is security best built through diplomacy, alliances and shared rules, or through strength and independence?
14 statements in the test score this axis. Agreeing with some moves you toward Cooperation, with others toward Strength.
What the Foreign policy axis measures
The Foreign policy axis covers military spending, using force abroad, alliances, international courts, foreign aid and how much power global bodies should have. Your score runs from -100 (Cooperation) to +100 (Strength).
Both ends want a safe and respected country. They differ on the best tool. One side trusts agreements and shared institutions to prevent conflict. The other trusts a country's own power and freedom to act to protect its people.
Sample statements
These are real statements from the test. Each one is keyed to this axis, in one direction or the other.
“Military alliances with other countries are essential for national security.”
“International organizations should have more power to settle disputes between countries.”
“A strong military is the best way to keep a country safe.”
“A country should be willing to use military force to protect its interests abroad.”
What the Cooperation end means
People at this end believe that big problems cross borders. War, pandemics and climate change cannot be solved by one country alone, they say. They put their faith in diplomacy, treaties, alliances and bodies where countries agree rules and settle disputes. The idea behind the League of Nations after the First World War was an early version of this thinking.
They tend to see force as a last resort, and they often want money spent on aid and diplomacy rather than a larger military. They believe that a country gains more by being a trusted partner than by standing alone.
- They often hold that treaties and shared institutions settle disputes better than force.
- Many want countries to accept the verdicts of international courts.
- They tend to support generous aid to poorer nations as both right and sensible.
- Many would shift public money from armies toward diplomacy and development.
Who sits at the Cooperation end
- Mahatma Gandhi-90
- Eugene V. Debs-85
- Jane Addams-85
- Keir Hardie-85
- Noam Chomsky-85
- Rosa Luxemburg-85
What the Strength end means
People at this end believe that a country's safety rests on its own strength. A strong military discourages attack, they say, and a country that gives up its freedom to act can be pulled into rules it never chose. The idea that each state governs itself, which goes back to the peace settlements of 1648, is central for them.
They tend to be willing to use force to protect national interests, wary of outside bodies overriding national law, and keen to spend public money at home before abroad. Many also feel that allies can be useful, but a country should never depend on them.
- They often see a strong army as the surest guard against attack.
- Many accept using military power abroad when national interests are at stake.
- They tend to resist foreign courts or bodies having the last word over national law.
- Many would rather spend public money on home needs than on overseas aid.
Who sits at the Strength end
- John McCain+80
- Barry Goldwater+75
- George W. Bush+75
- James K. Polk+75
- Niccolò Machiavelli+75
- Charles de Gaulle+70
Scores near the middle
A score near zero often means you want both strength and partnership. You might support a solid defense and also back alliances, or accept international rules in some areas but not others. Many people see strong allies as a way to be secure, not as a loss of independence.
Common mix-ups
Strength means wanting war. No. Many people at this end argue that a strong military is how you avoid war, because others will not dare to attack. They disagree with Cooperation on method, not on wanting peace.
Cooperation means being weak or pacifist. No. Many people at this end support alliances that include military commitments. They believe that working together makes everyone safer.
This axis is the same as Trade. They are linked but separate. Foreign policy covers security and diplomacy. Trade covers tariffs and economic openness. You can score differently on each.
How it relates to other axes
Trade: Trade is about economic openness, and Foreign policy is about security and diplomacy. Someone can favor strong alliances and also tariffs, or free trade and a go-it-alone defense.
Culture: Culture is about who lives in the country and how they fit in. Foreign policy is about the state's dealings with other states. Some people line up on both, but they are different questions.
FAQ
Do military alliances count as Cooperation or Strength?
The test treats alliances as a form of cooperation. Some people in the Strength camp also like alliances, so it is a good idea to look at your answers on each statement, not just the label.
Does a Strength score mean I support war?
No. It means you trust national power and independence as the best protection. Many at this end see force as a last resort and want a strong military to avoid ever needing it.
Why is foreign aid on this axis?
Aid is a tool of international cooperation. Supporters see it as help for people in great need that also builds goodwill. Critics think a government should solve problems at home first.
Why are international courts included?
They test how much you accept outside authority over your own country's laws. Supporters see shared rules as a way to keep the peace, and critics see them as a loss of self-government.
Where do you sit on Foreign policy?
Take the test