See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331984481
A short review of foreign policy analysis and why it matters?
Article · March 2019
CITATIONS
READS
0
9,300
1 author:
Emmanuel Solomon John
Tallinn University
5 PUBLICATIONS 4 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries View project
All content following this page was uploaded by Emmanuel Solomon John on 25 March 2019.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.
A Short Review
A short review of foreign policy analysis and why it matters?
Foreign policy involves totality of the country’s policies toward and interactions with the
environment beyond its borders. However, it has been the maintenance and enhancement of a
country’s power and security ranging to an economic relationship with other countries and the
country’s integrity.
However, foreign policy analysis explains how states, institutions and peoples engage with one
another within a dynamic international system. Therefore, foreign policy can be coined as the
shaping of domestic and foreign politics and external environments using various methods
ranging from diplomacy, sanctions and even new media based on state interests.
Hence, it involves the study of the conduct and practice of relations between different actors,
primarily states, in the international system. Foreign policy between international actors or
countries involves diplomacy, intelligence, trade negotiations and also cultural exchanges.
The foundational level of foreign policy analysis can be attributed to international relations.
And the explanation of single or group / collective decision is what characterised foreign policy
analysis because the decision most cases directly target external entities in a form of influence.
It can also target domestic entities but have an indirect connection to external entities (Hudson,
V. M. 2013).
And examined decisions taken by human decisionmakers in a position of authority, covering
the stages involves in the making of such decisions ranging from problem recognition, framing,
planning, the perception of the decision makers and the outcome or consequent of a certain
decision toward the resource of a nation-state.
Foreign policy analysis critically is tools or instrument that aim at investigating the interplay
between national and sub-national factors, systemic, actors and processes and even includes
bureaucracies, public opinion and individual decision making. It has also given significant
attention to the decision-making process in general and their outcome and has included
leadership style.
It has been adopted to aid the task of understanding the complex arena of the country’s foreign
policies and relationship with other countries at international levels (Brian White, 1999).
Foreign policy analysis today occupy a position in our society. Country’s collaboration and
interaction with other countries, it essential because politicians in the past have made several
policies/ decisions that created short term or even long term consequence, that has plunged
some countries into major crisis or war. Analysing of country’s foreign policy was given much
important during and after WW1 (Chris Alden & Amnon Aran, 2012), in which country’s seat
down to introduce various policies to gain support from other countries that also contributed
massively to the fall of the powerful Soviet Union.
It matters the most because of the numerous quest to understand not just why politicians/leaders
make the choice they do but also why and how has domestic and international influence in its
constraints and opportunities affected their choices.
As an instrument, Foreign policy analysis is providing answers to various questionable actions
behind decisions or policies taken or made by politicians/leaders, it gives knowledge on how
foreign policy decisions are made, why it made, why a country engaged in a specific kinds of
foreign policy behaviours and opportunities and constraints presented by international system
during the decision making processes. China as a nation introduce policies in which they can
use to gain more power in the international arena and lesser the existing influence of western
countries on its side.
According to Breuning, the major task or aim of the foreign policy is to move beyond intuitive
knowledge to explicit knowledge, because explicit knowledge helps us reexamine our
assumptions and question the lessons derived from an experience thereby aiming at making
systematically contrast and comparison (Breuning, 2007). The introducing/ establishing of
foreign policy analysis has put an end to the superficial assumptions on reasons behind country
policies with one another even though, most decision makers derived most of their knowledge
from experience which is often interpreted narrowly.
However, it produced an integrated explanation of foreign policy decisionmaking in particular
cases without exclusion of various component ranging from the personalities of the
decisionmakers, small group effects/ large group effect, culture, domestic politics, national
attributes and systemic influences.
Moreover, it provides answers to numerous unanswerable questions which involves whether
the goal of foreign policy is clear, and how other countries at the international level see such
policy and the retaliation or consequent of the policy.
Although, it provides a structured explanation of the role occupied by the three prominent
elements of foreign policy (actors, issues and interest) in an already implemented policy that
guides a country relationship with other countries at the international level.
Finally, it has significantly enhanced our understanding of foreign policy making and its
implementation.
Reference
Brian White (1999). The European Challenge to Foreign policy Analysis.
Hudson, V. M. (2013). Foreign policy analysis : Classic and contemporary theory. Retrieved
from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Webber, M., & Smith, M. (2014). Foreign policy in a transformed world. Retrieved from
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
Chris Alden & Amnon Aran (2012). Foreign Policy Analysis: New approaches.
View publication stats