Stacey Abrams on Foreign Policy

	Stacey Abrams on Foreign Policy Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger (GA); 2020 Veepstakes contender

Understand global issues for intersectionality of policies

I worked with the British American Project, the Council of Italy, the American Council of Young Political Leaders program, and the Council on Foreign Relations, among others. In 2004, I travelled to Bulgaria as part of the German Marshall Fund Program. While foreign policy seemed to stray beyond my focus as a state legislative leader and a voting rights advocate, I intentionally worked to build a robust understanding of international complexities. Any leadership in America must understand the international approach to global questions as well as the intersectionality of our policies. Plainly said, we have to understand the effect we are having on the world, and vice versa. Source: Our Time Is Now, by Stacey Abrams, p.223 , Jun 9, 2020

We've returned to isolationism, driven by fear-mongering

I no longer believe that there is this bright line between domestic and foreign policy. I think what we have seen play out in the last few years has shown us just how thin that line is, if the line exists at all. You cannot be an effective leader in domestic policy if you do not understand how foreign policy not only informs, but sometimes challenges and pushes into relief the tensions that exist. And so, yes, I care a lot about foreign policy and have been doing it for a while.

We've, unfortunately, returned to what can often be cast as sort of the know-nothing time of our foreign policy. When we were an isolationist country, that is much of what we're seeing now, only instead of it being grounded in a sense that America is stronger by itself it's actually couched more, I believe, because of the leader we have, in racism and xenophobia and sexism and homophobia, misogyny. And it's driven by a fear-mongering that is undermining exactly who we should be.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race , May 10, 2019

Our moral credibility in the world has been diminished

My deepest fear is that we will have to take a long time to restore our position in the world because our moral credibility has been diminished. It is a matter of degree, not of difference. We have to remember that in the United States it looks slightly different, but we have a Muslim ban on entry, we have undervalued and mistreated voters right here at home, and we have allowed the blossoming of laws that have systematically suppressed minority rights and minority votes. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race , May 10, 2019

Representation matters in our foreign service

As of 2018, our Foreign Service corps was 88% white and two-thirds male. That has not always been so. Under George Bush, George W. Bush, Clinton, Obama, we actually saw a diversification of our foreign policy corps in a way that was truly reflective of who we are as America. Representation matters, but also the diversity of ideas and our ability to engage. When we send our foreign corps to the Middle East, having women who can have conversations with other women is an important consideration. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race , May 10, 2019

Concerned China building infrastructure, relationships

What China is doing with infrastructure, it is deeply concerning because that type of largess comes with obligations. There is a good to building infrastructure in place where colonization and disinvestment has disrupted development. But I think we should be deeply concerned about how it's coming into being. We need to be prepared to intercede when the bill comes due. Because China understands what they're doing. They are building out not only infrastructure but relationships. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race , May 10, 2019