Traditionally, the study of foreign policy has focused primarily on the quest to maintain and enhance a country’s power and security. It centered on questions of averting war when possible, deciding to fight if necessary, and first and foremost ensuring the integrity of the country’s borders.
It's agenda does not stop with security and economic issues: in recent decades, environmental issues have increasingly gained attention; so have issues such as human rights, population growth and migration, food and energy policies, as well as foreign aid, development, and the relations between richer and poorer countries.
Foreign policy behavior is the acting out of the decision. In our example, it would be the act of invading Kuwait. Foreign policy behavior can often be described fairly straightforwardly: it consists of the actions taken to influence the behavior of an external actor or to secure a benefit for the country itself. Especially the policy makers of smaller countries often focus more on securing tangible benefits for their own state (such as military assistance or development aid) than on obtaining political influence globally (by, e.g., promoting free trade or democracy) The outcome of actions depends not just on the decision taken by the leaders of one country, but also on how other actors in the international environment react to those actions.
Variances and key terms of foreign policy Analysis
Relative Capability
The explanation focuses on the relative power of states in the world and sometimes also in specific regional subsystems.
For example of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait also shows that the constraints imposed by being a small and weak country are generally enduring factors affecting that state’s foreign policy. Kuwait’s smallness makes it vulnerable to belligerent neighbors and in need of more powerful allies.
Individual level of Analysis
The individual level of analysis focuses on leaders and decision makers in an effort to explain foreign policy. It assumes that individuals shape the course of history, because it is their choices and decisions that drive the course of events. The analysis of individuals might focus on either their personalities or on their perceptions —how they make sense of their world and event occurs in it
This implies that individuals and the decisions they make are a major determinant of foreign policy. In order to understand foreign policy decisions and behaviors, then, we must understand leaders and their personalities, perceptions, and motivations.
In addition,domestic political institutions and public opinion may also play a role, depending on the nature of the political system.
The state level of analysis
It focuses on factors internal to the state as those that compel states to engage in specific foreign policy behaviors, this level of analysis, emphasis is on how factors internal to the state influence the behavior of that state on the global stage. From a decision making perspective, these factors are often characterized as constraints that determine the parameters of the possible for leaders.
The system level of analysis
It focuses on comparisons (and interactions) between states. This level of analysis asks questions about the relative power of states.
The system level of analysis makes certain assumptions about
the political interests of countries, among which is first and foremost the idea that a state’s power is central to its ability to maintain the integrity of its borders. However, the definition of political interest, sometimes called national interest, is not necessarily straightforward.
References foreign policy analysis a comparative introduction (Marijke B)
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