ProvCast Ep. 8: The Obama Doctrine & Moral Multilateralism

In this episode we will speak with Matt Gobush about the Obama doctrine, the former president’s foreign policy, and a concept Gobush calls “Moral Multilateralism”. In the Spring 2016 issue of Providence’s print edition, Gobush wrote about this idea and what implications it would have for America’s foreign policy. In the same issue, Providence’s managing editor Marc LiVecche wrote another article more critical of Obama’s foreign policy.

I strongly recommend listeners go back and read both articles, even though they draw very different conclusions. In my experience, it is quite helpful to read opposing views on the same topic to develop a more holistic vision. My hope is that policy recommendations drawn from this type of vision will benefit our country more than those without it.

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Again, I’d like to give special thanks to Joseph Rossell for producing this episode.

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Matt Gobush served on the staff of the National Security Council in the Clinton White House, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee. He also served as chairman of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns. He currently works in the private sector and lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife and three internationally adopted children.

Mark Melton is the Deputy Editor for Providence. He earned his Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews and focuses on Europe.

Photo Credit: President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listen to the national anthem during the September 11th Observance Ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Va., Sept. 11, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)