Foreign policy expert Robert Beck explained “Why foreign policy matters” at the first Monadnock Lyceum of 2026.
Beck, a non-resident senior fellow in the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, spent 30 years serving United States embassies overseas, including in the US military. Since retiring to New Hampshire, he has taught foreign policy at Keene State College’s Cheshire Academy for Lifelong Learning and lectures regularly on foreign policy in the Monadnock region.
Beck engaged the Lyceum audience with questions about foreign policy myths and popular misconceptions.
“Was George H.W. Bush a competent practitioner of foreign policy?” Beck asked. “In fact, he was very competent. He presided during the collapse of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact, and he did it very competently; it was bloodless. Bush also executed the war to push Iraq out of Kuwait, and he put together 30 countries that participated in the Iraq War.”
Beck said he brought up the first President Bush because “he only served one term.”
“That fact illustrates that foreign policy is not important to the American people. Bush lost the next election to a total neophyte when it came to foreign policy, which was Bill Clinton.”
Beck said people may not realize how much foreign policy impacts their daily lives.
“Foreign policy can mean security, it can mean war, it can cause stability or instability, nuclear proliferation or non-nuclear proliferation. It can affect travel; it affects our economy. It can affect our ability to work with other countries in a translateral way and deal with transnational issues-including terrorism, narcotics trafficking, immigration, and climate change. It is important and will continue to be important.”
According to Beck, another example of a president who may not be widely remembered for their success but had a lasting positive impact was Richard Nixon.
“Nixon passed the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. He founded the EPA, he got rid of the draft, and he was successful in many ways, but he crashed and burned on Watergate, which was indirectly related to Vietnam — which was a terrible tragedy,” Beck said.
Beck traced the impacts of Sept. 11, 2001, which led to the Global War on Terror and has cost 7,000 lives.
“9/11 was a terrible tragedy, but it was not — with hindsight being 20/20 — an existential threat to the United States. The Bush administration made it into an existential threat; and then created the ‘global war on terror,’ which I participated in,” Beck said.
Beck noted that Bush was able to gather 30 allies for the first Gulf War, and that the second Gulf War, with President George W. Bush, included an alliance with the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland. The U.S. is down to just one ally, Israel, in the war against Iraq.
“The global war on terror intensified the political divisions in our country,” Beck said. “The ‘Global War on Terror’ cost 7,000 American lives, and 53,000 were injured. Upwards of one million people across the globe in five countries were killed. If we want to talk about values, what does it say about American values if we are behind this type of war? I am not trying to be overly critical or overly complimentary of any president, but I would posit that if it were not for the Gulf War, we probably would not have the administration we have now.”
Beck said the ongoing war in Ukraine is one of the most critical issues impacting global stability.
“Ukraine represents the largest and most severe threat to the security of Europe since World War II. NATO is the most successful and productive defensive alliance in the history of the world,” Beck said.
Beck said the impacts of the Iran War are directly affecting Americans at home.
“Iran has cost us $132 billion up to the middle of June. If you just look at the price of gas, that is directly impacted by the war with Iran,” he said. “Then throw on top of that the fact that our current administration asked for a supplemental funding bill of $67 billion toward the Department of Defense. That is many more times the budget for the entire Department of State had for all our embassies.”
Beck used the example of the smartphone to illustrate the importance of rare earth minerals, which are used to manufacture electronics, and the failure of the U.S. to truly compete in the market.
“The U.S. is way behind the eight-ball on these rare earth minerals and elements, which are critical for renewable energy, and for all our digital ‘toys.’ China controls 60% of global mining of rare earth elements, and they control 90% of refining and processing,” Beck said. “If you peel the onion back on Greenland and Canada, it is about rare earth elements. We need a secure and stable supply of these rare earth elements.”
Beck sees the nation’s capacity to develop renewable energy as another vital factor in long-term stability.
“With renewable energy, we are woefully behind. We were doing well, but we all know what has happened; it has been put on hold. I believe we will get back to being a major player in renewable energy,” Beck said.
“Right now, we have 25% renewables. China is at 30%, with a 60% capacity. Most of Europe is at 50%, with our friends in Denmark leading the way at 80%.”
Beck noted that New Hampshire is an exporting state, particularly with manufacturing aircraft parts, pharmaceuticals and industrial parts, and that the state’s exports are impacted by tariffs.
“Our exports support 40,000 jobs. But our top export partners are Canada and Germany, both of whom are in the gunsights with tariffs, and our top import partner is Canada. Most of our lumber from construction comes from Canada,” he said. “Canadian tourists are not coming anymore, either.”
Beck pointed to the role of the U.S. in the global health infrastructure.
“During COVID, because we were still invested in global health infrastructure with agencies such as the World Health Organization and USAID, we were in a better position to react to that and to support the globe. With COVID, we were part of the solution. If another pandemic struck, I don’t think we would be part of the solution anymore,” Beck said.
Beck also spoke to the vital role of immigrants in the U.S., stating that U.S. leadership has “systematically failed” at immigration policy over the past 40-50 years.
“How many people have been treated by a doctor or dental care professional who is an immigrant? Immigrants are a key part of our society. We need to get serious about finding a solution to immigration; we need to figure out how to get the people we need, and protect ourselves from the people we don’t want.”
Despite the many problems facing the U.S., Beck is optimistic that the U.S. can bounce back.
“Are we welcoming and compassionate? Are we an open society that wants to be a part of the solution to the global problems we all face, or will we close our doors and not be part of the solutions?” Beck said. “The climate is changing — no matter what is causing it, it’s happening. It’s a global problem which requires a global solution, and I am confident that we will become a part of the solution again, maybe as soon as 2028.”
Beck urged all Americans to take the time to understand the impacts of the nation’s foreign policy.
“By understanding those connections, you will become better informed voters, and you will be better equipped to face the foreign policy issues of today,” he said.
For a complete recording of Robert Beck’s talk at the Monadnock Lyceum on July 5, go to monadnocklyceum.org/robert-beck.
The Monadnock Summer Lyceum will next host authors Tom Weiner and Dr. Amilcar Shabazz on July 12 at 10:30 a.m. at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church. Their presentation, “Listen to the Abolitionists,” will explore lesser-known historical figures who fought to end slavery, drawing from their 2025 book, “In Defiance: 20 Abolitionists You Were Never Taught in School.”
Moderated by Michelle Stahl, the event features music by Gwir and Abhai Llewellyn, a question-and-answer session and a reception.