Hillary Clinton sets forth the new foreign policy of the Obama administration.  The grand strategy claims that using a multiplicity of foreign policy tools will foster a more effective US foreign policy.  The strategy chooses to mix pragmatism with humanism, arguing that there exists a humanitarian imperative to consult honestly with other nations of the world.

Smart Power sets forth four explicit goals:

1. to maintain the security of the American people, polity, its allies and interests.

2. to facilitate and promote domestic and international economic expansion.

3. to strengthen America's global leadership role while protecting the environment and human dignity across the globe.

4. to secure and promote "U.S. values."

 

In other words, Clinton seeks to achieve three Ps: partnership, principles and pragmatism.

The Smart Power doctrine lays out several foreign policy options in relatively diplomatic terms:

-"Negotiating, persuading and exerting leverage" in private diplomacy to achieve national interests

-Through dialogue with political officials and governmental organs, discover opportunities for cooperation and compromise.

-Recognizing the changing nature of the global system, partner with non-governmental actors including NGOs, corporations and IGOs.

-Employ innovative modes of communication in order to conduct public diplomacy and outreach.

-Deploy intelligent diplomats who understand and account for the interests and objectives of the party across the negotiating table.

Smart Power remains vague.  Thus, the future of the foreign policy budget is unclear.  It is fair to project that implementing the doctrine will require a larger diplomatic corps with greater resources.