Unit 1: Definition of the Concept of Foreign Policy (Definition, Foreign Policy Objectives of States)

Introduction

Foreign policy is a subject area within the discipline of International Relation which is covered study is covered by the sub-field of Foreign Policy Analysis.

Definition and Fundamental Aspects of Foreign Policy

Definition of Foreign Policy

It should be said from the start that, at the first glance, the concept of foreign policy might seem to be elusive. Even though it is a central concept of the discipline of International Relations, at times one can feel to be stranded in the same paradox that St. Augustinus of Hippo (AD 354 – Ad 430) has so eloquently described in his conception of time; “If no one asks me, I know what it is.” Indeed, thereexists a multiplicity of definitions, and a consensual definition of foreign policy is somewhat lacking in the literature on the subject.

The Interrelatedness of Foreign Policy and Domestic Policy

Foreign policy is “the ‘actions of an independent political authority’ because it is reserved to sovereign states.” (Morin and Paquin, 2018, p.3) However, foreign policy decisions are not made in an “international” vacuum. There is a strong domestic dimension of every foreign policy decision. As representatives of different states are displaying foreign policy behavior, (Throughout the present chapter the term foreign policy behavior and state behavior will be used interchangeably.)

Interdisciplinarity of Foreign Policy

Similar to International Relations Foreign Policy also forms an interdisciplinary subject area. In actuality, one can contend that almost all case studies in International Relations do have a foreign policy aspect. Furthermore, at least for one particular theory of International Relations, classical realism, foreign policy was a cornerstone in the study of international relations.” (Diez, Bode, and Costa, 2011, p.58) In fact, the analysis of foreign policy requires an intellectual engagement in a number of subfields including public policy, history, economy, law, psychology etc. and theoretical approaches such as decision analysis, rational choice, game theory.

Actors and Structures in Foreign Policy

The notion of “foreign policy” is centrally related to the existence of actors and structures and the reciprocal relationship between the two. The interaction between the actors and structures consequently causes reciprocal transformation of these actors and structures.

State as Primary Actor in Foreign Policy

As Moon has pointed out; “Foreign policy behavior cannot be understood without an appreciation of the goals and priorities, the internal and external constraints, and the perceptions and expectations that guide state action. Thus, any theory of foreign policy behavior must contain within it a theory of the state, however unconscious or incomplete.” This state-centric approach, that International Relations has inherited from traditional political thought, assumes that the issues of high politics pertaining to matters of security and survival prevailed over low politics in the conduct of foreign policy. A mixed actor model based on a pluralist approach provides a better framework for analyzing the disorders and complexities of contemporary foreign policy issues. The approaches based on these phenomena as laid out by Gurevitch (1978) are referred to as second- image reversed. Based on the earlier work of Kenneth N. Waltz on the three images of international relations (Waltz, 1959), these approaches look at the international sources of domestic conduct and essentially are attempts in strengthening our understanding of the nexus between foreign policy and domestic politics. The interaction between state and society, and the institutions that represent the societal interests, has historically been a constraining factor on states autonomy of taking decision, including foreign policy decisions.

Structure in International Relations

In this sense, structures are distinguishing, long standing and established composition of institutions, rules, organizing principles that provide the framework within and relate to each other in international relations. For proponents of a structural approach to international relations, approaches concentrating on unit (actor) level, with their strong focus on the states, are somehow reductionist. That is because, although states are dominant agencies with persuasive power over their peers and other agencies, and with ability to exert consequential, though not definitive, influence on the outcomes, state behavior in and of itself is not enough to analyze either the interaction amongst the actors or the abovementioned outcomes.

Agency-Structure Problem

As a matter of fact, the act of foreign policy takes place in the space between the states, made possible by the lack of their ability to control and do everything that interests them. The states work as the guardians and mediators of external influences on the particular interests represented by the domestic polity. They do so by depending on, and vigilantly protecting, their sovereignty.

Foreign Policy Objectives of States

Foreign policy objectives could simply be defined as the ends that foreign policy is designed to achieve. These might involve mostly abstract goals of survival, security, protection and/ or advancement of a particular ideology, well-being of the society, pursuit of power, etc. Ideally foreign policy objectives are the product of a careful analysis trying to match a country’s priorities, objectives and goals, with the ways and the means that would enable it to attain them, while capabilities represent the available bridges between these.

Capability Analysis and Foreign Policy Objectives

Objectives and goals are inevitably related to threats, risks and opportunities associated with the issue at hand. However, ideally they are expected to be contemplated contingent to or in consideration of the former. Nonetheless, in practice it is not uncommon to see the everyday pressures created by exigencies take precedence over higher political considerations. In this case, it is not surprising to see urgencies dominating the priorities as they dictate the agenda.

Elements of National Power and Foreign Policy Objectives

Elements of national power are the factors that constitute the actual and potential power of a state. Some of these factors are subject to human impulses, organization and capabilities; some are largely beyond it. A short list of the elements of national power would include: the size of the state; its geopolitical location; the number, technical and intellectual quality of scientific elites; the size of the technological level, equipment, firepower, force projection capabilities, training, culture and morale; the fertility of the territory it controls; the abundance and variety of natural resources –including but not limited to energy resources–; the size of the population, its demographics, its level of human development; its level of economic development, including the size of GDP, the per capita distribution of GDP, the quality, extent and diffusion of the infrastructure (system and networks of transportation, energy, communication etc.); the strength and diversity of industrial development; the quality of the educational system; the organizational success, quality and competency of research and development activities (the number of original patents, the commercialization ratio of research and development efforts etc.); the nature and strength of the political, social and economic system and institutions; the quality of its foreign policy and diplomats; the quality of leadership; the national character and morale of the population.