The study of Foreign Policies is one of the important subfields of studying
International Politics .
International Relations consist of an interacting set of foreign policies of different
States.
The study of “ Foreign Policy “ is concerned with the study of that area of Governmental activity which is related to relations between the State and other international actors ( particularly other States ) within the international system.
Scholars and practitioners alike have an interest in trying to understand what is
going on at the international level ( through the understanding and explanation of international relations, as well as to understand the foreign behavior of States ( through Foreign Policy Analysis ).
Analyzing anything is rather like stripping down an engine , in that it involves
the separating out of that which you are trying to explain, into its component parts for explanatory purposes . A useful way of thinking about analysis, in the context of foreign policy , is to see it as providing a necessary theoretical framework for posing “what” ,’why”, and “ how” questions.
The “ What “ here refers to the motives behind a certain State behavior, and the “ How” is concerned with the way foreign policies and decisions are made and implemented , as well as “ How ” they affected international environment .
1 Definitions of “ Foreign Policy “ :
There are various definitions of “ Foreign Policy “ , among which we can cite the following :
- Foreign Policy is the external behavior ( or conduct ) of a State .
- Foreign Policy is the art of dealing with the enemies according to the necessities of national interests .
- Foreign Policy is the system of activities evolved by a State for changing the behavior of other States , and for adjusting its own activities to international environment .
- Foreign Policy involves the formulation and implementation of a group of
principles which shape the behavior pattern of a State , while dealing with other States to protect or further its national interests .
Foreign Policy and “ National Interest “ :
The concept of National Interest is the cornerstone or the key concept in analyzing foreign policy .The starting point in foreign policymaking is “ National Interest” .
As long as the world is politically organized ,or politically divided into various politically differentiated sovereign societies, the national interest will represent the last word in world politics . Foreign policy is sometimes defined as the processes by which States adjust their national interests to those of other States . Emphasizing the vital importance of national interest in foreign policymaking and decision-making ,
2 Lord Palmerstone has overtly declared that : “ We have no eternal ally, and no eternal enemy. Our interests are eternal , and those interests it is our duty to follow “.
An “ Interest “ is any value important to an actor that it wishes to attain , preserve ,
or increase .
Accordingly, national interests may be defined in terms of what States seek to
protect, or to achieve , vis-à-vis other States .
National interest is usually expressed in the national objectives or goals adopted by
foreign policymakers.
These goals revolve usually around the following :
1) maintaining territorial integrity and sovereignty .
2) safeguarding national security.
3) protecting national prestige.
4) developing national power and capability .
5) promoting economic welfare and economic interests .
6) maintaining international peace and world order.
The sum total of the goals of a nation’s foreign policy constitute its national interest.
In conclusion, the concept of national interest remains of a central importance
in any attempt to explain , predict or prescribe foreign policies .
3 All actors on the international scene have interests. These interests may include :
- tangible interests : such as territorial expansion, natural resources …
- intangible interests : such as more abstract principles or moral values like :
democracy , human rights , environment , …
The interests of actors may be :
1) common interests
2) conflicting or contending interests.
3) irrelevant to one another .
It is not uncommon for all three types of interests to exist simultaneously
between States.
Actors may be said to have common interests when they share a set of common values , and when the pursuit or achievement of certain interests by one actor contributes to the achievement of interests of another. Actors may be said to have conflicting interests when their values conflict , and when the achievement of an actor’s interests excludes, or makes more difficult, the achievement of another actor’s interests.
Only under exceptional circumstances are the interests of two actors, taken all together , totally in conflict or held wholly in common. Thus, in the majority of cases the relationships of States are a mix of common and conflicting interests .
4 When common interests prevail, the relationship is characterized by amity , friendliness, cooperation or alliance , while when conflicting interests prevail ,the relationship is characterized by enmity, hostility or conflict .
In certain cases there is a possibility to find common interests even between
enemies , as it is also possible to find certain conflicting interests between allies . During the Suez Crisis in 1956, both United States and the Soviet Union had common interests even though they were bitter enemies ,while the United States had conflicting interests with both France and Britain ,even though they were allies in the NATO alliance .
The ‘ Science “ of International Relations , and the “ Art” of Foreign Policy :
Foreign Policy is referring to a program of action adopted by a State in its
relations with other countries, and englobing the foreign goals the State is trying to achieve on the international level, as well as the tools or instruments enabling to achieve these goals with utmost efficiency .
Accordingly we can conclude that foreign policymaking belongs to “Art”,
since art is referring to “ the rules of work perfection”. Thus, foreign policy is related to what is called “ instrumental “ or “ applied” value judgements, that recommend the best way of achieving a given end , without attempting to justify the end itself . It is also known as “means–ends analysis”.
While the study of International Relations as a “Science” is seeking
“interpretation “ of international phenomena, in order to know Why ? and How ? these phenomena take place , foreign policy belongs to the field of “work” or “application”. Foreign policymakers can benefit in their work from the scientific
5 facts of International Relations as a science ; in spite of this their work ( or the foreign policy ) still belongs to the field of art .
Factors Conditioning Foreign Policies :
There are many factors that condition or shape the foreign policy of any State . These factors are usually classified into two groups :
1 ) External Factors :
such as the configuration of power , or power distribution in the international system
,whether on the regional or global level , the prevailing trends on the international scene ,such as : Decolonization in the 1950 ‘s and 1960’s , War on Terrorism after 9/11 events , as well as the nature of the situation the State is facing .
2 ) Internal Factors : such as geographical or geopolitical considerations , Demographic factors , whether quantitative or qualitative, Economic considerations , Ideology, National Character , Nature of Political Regimes whether Democratic , Authoritarian or Totalitarian , as well as attitudes of public opinion .
Policymaking and Decisionmaking :
“ Policymaking “ means the formulation of the framework that guides or directs the foreign behavior of the State , or the program of action leading the conduct of the State in its dealing with other States .
Usually, foreign policies are implemented through the taking of consecutive and complementary decisions .
6 “ Decision-making “ is the choice of a specific mode of action among the possible alternatives regarding a specific foreign situation the State is facing .
Case : The policy of “ Containment” adopted by the US ,after the second World War, was implemented through various decisions of American foreign policy in various situations , such as : the offering of economic assistance to both Turkey and Greece in 1947 ( Truman Doctrine ), and then to the rest of west European countries in 1948 ( Marshall Plan for European Economic Recovery ) , the creation of the NATO alliance in 1949 , as well as several cases of military interventions in different parts of the world .
The main goal of the decision-making process is to reach the “ rational decision “, or the best possible alternative or mode of action that is most likely to maximize its gains ( interests or goals ) and to minimize the costs or the risks it may face while trying to achieve these goals .
Various parties are participating in the decision-making process. Some of
which are formal political institutions or governmental bodies of the State such as : The Presidency , The Prime Minister and his Cabinet, The Foreign Minister , Defense Minister . These political entities are usually aided by some administrative bodies such as : National Security Councils , Intelligence Agencies , Information Agencies ,and Foreign Aid Agencies . Besides , there are other informal organizations influencing the decision- making process such as : Political Parties , Interest or Pressure Groups , Non- Governmental Organizations ( NGO’s ) or what is known as the Civil Society whether local or international , Think Tanks , Public Opinion , and Mass Media .
