America's Democratic Crisis and Foreign Policy Dilemma

TaeEun Min

Researcher at Korea Institute for National Unification

taeeunmin@kinu.or.kr

The Biden administration is linking security to issues of liberal democracy ideology and values based on the rule of law. However, democracy in the United States is facing a crisis. American politics' tradition of tolerance for difference and decision-making through compromise is being undermined. This democratic crisis poses a dilemma for the United States in pursuing democracy-based foreign policy. This U.S. dilemma has many implications for Korea, which aims to become a global pivotal state based on democratic values. Specifically, it implies that in order to gain trust as a global pivotal state that promotes universal values, it must become a mature democratic country. At the same time, it must show that flexible value diplomacy strategy.​