Foreign Policy notes PDF

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Prof McNamara...

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Pols 304 9/17 What is Foreign Policy?  Foreign Policy: articulation of national interests and the means chosen to secure those interests  Material interests: tangible; may be trade agreements, energy sources, control over strategic territory  Ideational interests: intangible Role of the State  The state o It is the most important actor in the modern international system o The concept of state is central to all relationships in global politics  Foreign policy: the process by which states interact State system  An order of sovereign, territorial stated developed in Europe from 1648 (Westphalian system) o This order extended beyond Europe until the whole world was organized as a series of nation-states o IR were between nation-states o Rise of nationalism (late 18th century)  Globalization may undermine this political order o Eroding sovereign territorial power o Creating competing ideas Nationalism  Ideology  Politics  Sentiment  Provides the focus of political identity and loyalty  Ethno-nationalism: loyalty and identity shift from state to an ethnic community; desire to create own state Nationalism and foreign policy  Perception of role as a special nation with values and traditions that other states should emulate; American exceptionalism  Every state has a vision about how the world should be ordered Evolution of nation-states: role of nationalism  Pre-modern states o Individuals are more loyal to subnational, religious or ethnic communities o Often called failed or failing states o Central government lacks capacity to provide basic services

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o Minimal or nonexistent foreign policies o Examples: Somalia, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan Modern states o Traditional nation-states with control over their territory o Have the ability to protect their citizens and provide services that allow for the accumulation of wealth o Foreign policy goals: economic interests, strive to be major regional power, want to be treated as global equal o Citizens tend to identify strongly with the state and nationalism o Examples: China, India, Russia Postmodern states o Primary liberal Western world o States linked with other states in both formal and informal arrangements and both the regional and global levels o Citizens are less nationalistic and more cosmopolitan in their domestic and foreign policy outlook o Sovereignty is shared with other public and private actors (civil society, gov’t institutions) o Tend to support calls for global governance and efforts to resolve global problems

Factors shaping national interests  Individuals, especially political leaders or elites  Interest groups  Geographic groups  International events (neo-realism)  Political culture: traditions, norms, values National interest priorities  National security that includes the defense of borders and the prevention of external influence over domestic affairs  Pursuit of economic interest  Defense of a nation’s values  Implicit and explicit effort to spread and advocate for peace General foreign policy objectives  Power  Prosperity  Principles  Peace  Tools to implement objectives o Military o Foreign aid o Diplomacy

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Realism school most influential National security Military/defense policy (hard power) Prussian Karl von Clausewitz: war “the continuation of politics by another means” Role of alliances (NATO) Carrots (diplomacy) vs. sticks (military) Coercive diplomacy Role of foreign assistance Role of soft power (Nye)

Prosperity  Economic interests primary  Imports/exports  General long term economic relations with key players central to policymaking  IPE- interrelationship between political and economic factors  Conflicting views on US economic FP: benign and critical  Current debate in US among economic nationalists o Role of illiberalism Principles  Democratic idealism o Role of human rights  US exceptionalism  Manifest destiny: feeling of a historic mission  Role in Cold War, neo-conservatives  British (white man’s burden)  Principles under Trump? Peace  Liberal internationalists (Woodrow Wilson)  International institutions o League of nations o United Nations  Peace through multilateralism vs. unilateralism  Peace through power? Realist Perspective on Foreign Policy  Classical realists: states are unitary, rational, coherent actors  “Rational” means selecting a policy path that maximizes benefits for the sate and minimized risks  Primary national interest is national security No place for ideational or ethical concerns when shaping foreign policy  Military and economic power are the dominant tools for many realists

Liberal perspective  Force is not the only foreign policy tool for leaders  Ethical concerns do matter  Maintaining rule of law in the international system is important  States should create international institutions and regimes that promote global governance  Above all, cooperation among states; interdependence Constructivist perspective  State and foreign policy goals are defined in the context of collective norms, social identities and understandings about what is going on  Ideas and discourse used to shape foreign policy behavior  This normative context changes over time o This explains shifts in foreign policy behavior and interests promoted by national leaders o Examples: Cold War, current US-Russia-China relations Marxist perspective  Foreign policy is generally controlled by the economic and political elites who also control power at home  National interests are determined by the wealthy and powerful  Wars are fought primarily for economic reasons  The goal of development assistance programs to make poor countries dependents on the donor state  Keep developing regions of the world in the position of providing cheap labor, cheap resources, and a welcome place for foreign investors...