Do all states make foreign policy in the same way?

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Do all states make foreign policy in the same way?

PIED 2520 - Foreign Policy Analysis

Daniel M. Rose

Dr. C. Jones

Word Count: 2762

Foreign policy is when a state pursues objectives in its dealings with other states, and the methods and course of action used to pursue them. P. A. Reynolds defines foreign policy as "The range of actions taken by varying sections of the government of a state in its relations with other bodies similarly acting on the international stage . . . in order to advance the national interest"1. When shaping foreign policy there are many determinants that make an impact on how the policy is formed. These determinants can be placed in two broad categories, the global or external influences, and the internal or domestic influences. Social factors can affect the way foreign policy is shaped as well. For instance, a country which faces high internal unemployment figures will not pursue a foreign policy that will increase the number of immigrant workers. There are also economic and political factors which also changes how foreign policy is made. Every state experiences the same factors when deciding policy, yet from region to region the factors will change as will the way policy is implemented. States will also differ in the decision-making models they use for deciding policy. The main two models which will be analyses are the rational actor model, and the bureaucratic decision model. These will, and have done in the past provided decisions for states on the outcome of foreign policy.

The main external influence upon a state when deciding foreign policy is its' geopolitical location, this is where on the globe the country is located. It matters whether the country has natural frontiers: that is whether it is protected by oceans, high mountains or deserts. It matters who one's neighbours are and whether a given country is territorially large, populous, affluent and well-governed. Israel for example, is located amongst many potential enemies in the middle-east. This is reflected in the size and strength of their military which is one of the best in the world. A further example is in the UK. As an island not connected to the continent, many in Britain do not feel European, especially the former Conservative governments; as a result we are one of the few countries within the EU which is not involved with the single currency. Therefore, states often base their foreign policy in relation to their geopolitical location on the globe.

The internal determinants on states' foreign policy focus attention on "variations in states' attributes, such as military capabilities, level of economic development and types of government"2. Military capabilities depend on the size of the military within the state, the technological level of the equipment used, along with the level of training and leadership within the military. A further important factor is whether the military has nuclear capabilities. This is due to the fact that states with nuclear capabilities pose a greater threat on the world stage, especially if the state is one seen as an 'aggressor'. Recently, a factory capable of manufacturing weapons grade plutonium in North Korea was reopened; this led to an outcry from President Bush as it violated a UN mandate. Also the continuing weapons search in Iraq by UN weapons inspectors hoping to find some chemical, biological and nuclear weaponry, shows how states become nervous when an other state has nuclear capabilities.
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Further determinants which make states' foreign policy are the economic capabilities and what type of economy the state has. As a planned economy will not have a foreign policy that puts them in a free trade area, whereas a free market economy will pursue a trade union with other states. An additional determinant is the type of government within the state. A constitutional democracy (i.e. a presidential or parliamentary system) will have different foreign policies to that of a military dictatorship. A classic example is Hitler, he formed many policies that were aggressive, radical and that directly affected ...

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