Some foreign policy experts argue that since communism is no longer a global threat, the United States should give up its role as a world peacekeeper and concentrate on domestic policies. Solving the world’s conflicts is a role better suited to the United Nations, they contend. By transferring this responsibility to the UN, these analysts maintain that the United States can focus on resolving its domestic problems. Funds that were once slated for foreign aid and defense can now be used to improve education, develop inner cities, reduce taxes, and rebuild the economy.

Other foreign policy analysts contend, however, that the United States cannot afford to ignore the world’s problems.They warn that isolationism by the United States could lead to political instability around the world. Nations that could no longer depend on...