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Should the United States Try to Nation-Build Around the World?

32.3% yes
67.7% no

Over the past two decades, the United States has dedicated its efforts towards a policy of spreading democracy in the Middle East and Southern Asia. The Iraq War and the Afghanistan War are the two most prominent examples of this. Our military successfully removed the Taliban from power in Afghanistan immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but it remained for 20 more years to fight insurgents and build a functioning democratic society. In the past month, the United States significantly reduced its military presence in Afghanistan, and the Taliban retook its lost ground with astonishing speed. This turn of events has led to debates around why operations in Afghanistan in the 21st century failed and if they ever could have succeeded.

Those who support the United States trying to nation-build around the world argue that our country needs to help create stable democratic societies to bring liberty to peoples who haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. They contend that as the leader of the free world, the U.S. has an obligation to help others develop democratic societies. Additionally, they argue it is in the self-interest of Americans to nation-build in places like the Middle East and Southern Asia. They argue that the Taliban allowed al-Qaeda to use Afghanistan as a base to train for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which never would have happened if the country had a stable, democratic government.

Those who oppose the United States trying to nation-build around the world argue that doing so will only harm our country. They contend that given history, topography, and internal conflicts in countries like Afghanistan, a Western-style democratic government may not be attainable. Therefore, they argue, we are fighting a losing battle in trying to build such a functioning democracy in a place that faces opposition to it. This side may also argue that there are other ways we can maintain national security without resorting to nation-building such as intelligence and counter-terrorism operations.

So, what do you think? Should the United States Try to Nation-Build Around the World? Students may answer Yes, it should; No, it should not, or a nuanced answer in-between!


Note: Ideal Think the Vote responses include the following: 

  • Address the question asked in a thoughtful and meaningful manner 
  • Use cited facts and constitutional arguments when appropriate to support their answers 
  • Are expressed in cohesive sentences and are free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors 
  • They address counter-arguments and opposing concerns in a respectful manner 
  • They organize their answer in a manner that flows logically and reads clearly 

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Current Standings

Michael from New Jersey voted yes

U.S. nation building efforts around the world have been stymied in recent years, exemplified by overarching failures in Vietnam, Kosovo, Iraq, and most recently, Afghanistan. Historically, the record of American…

Prefer from Texas voted no

I think we should, but not with the current administration in office. Just looking at how Afghanistan was handled, they are inept at maintaining control in foreign countries. As this…

Leah from Kentucky voted yes

The United States should engage in Nation Building. When the United States entered Afghanistan we defeated Al Queada along with the Taliban and successfully advised the creation of a democratic…

Vincent from North Carolina voted no

The United States of America is currently the world’s sole superpower and has the most influential and broad effects on the affairs of foreign nations, including those both in the…

Peter from Kentucky voted yes

The United States should nation build around the world. However, there are incredibly strong restrictions that must be put in place for this nation building. For every successful and selfless…

Artem from Illinois voted no

The total cost of the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan is more than $1.4 trillion; of that, over $200 billion is spent on reconstruction and nation-building (https://facethefactsusa.org/facts/us-spends-more-rebuilding-iraq-afghanistan-than-post-wwii-germany/). These numbers…

Elizabeth from Kentucky voted yes

The preamble of the Constitution states that we write this constitution “to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, and promote the general welfare of the people”.…

Katherine from Texas voted no

I personally do not feel that the United States should engage in Nation Building. America is far from a perfect nation itself and should focus on bettering the lives of…

Ashley from Virginia voted yes

The United States is by no means a perfect, stable government, but we are stable enough to help others when we need to. So yes, we should nation-build around the…

Elleana from Texas voted no

The United States has so much going on already. Dealing with Covid-19 and everything with Afghanistan, the US should not try to build more nation around the world right now.…


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