Foreign Policy and Security Flashcards
(8 cards)
Define Foreign Policy
Lays out the course of action for the gov and other agencies, which is essentially the govs attempt to influence and manage events outside of the state through relationships with other states.
The advance of globalisation has dramatically widened the scope for interactions between the states.
Why do states react
For realist theorists - Rational Actor Model
1. FP is most integral policy in pursuit of national interests and ensuring sate survival.
- the Structure
- Problem identified, objective chosen based on effectiveness, decision on objective is made. - Pros:
- Cost benefit analysis - humans are able to pursue objectives in a rational and consistent manner. - Cons:
- decisions are made on incorrect or inadequate information.
- Impossible to select all courses of action
- ignores the role of perception which is actions beliefs about reality rather than reality itself.
Methods states use
Instruments of persuasion:
- Diplomacy - gov reps of two or more countries meet to discuss relevant options.
- Economic incentives - promising of trade
Instruments pof coercion:
- Economic sanctions
- Propaganda - US used gov radio to incentivised Soviet Union people about west ideals. N.Korea uses propaganda showing S.Korea needs purification from capitalism.
- Covert operations - Osama Bin Laden killing.
- coercive diplomacy - moving military bases to more strategic positions - China and neighbouring countries claims to South China Sea due to gas reserves. Competing interests with Vietnam.
Sources of Foreign Policy
- National Leaders
- Institutions
- Public Opinion
National Leaders:
- well established personality and upbringing may affect their FP choices. It allows them to gain office.
- make decisions which aren’t always comprehensive (shortcuts).
__Bush and Iraq invasion
__ Barak Obamas ethnicity
Institutions within Nat Gov.
- in democratic gov’s, FP is less centralised and more open to public discussion
- Thatcher and Bush deemed necessary to go to war with support of legislatures - Saddam Hussain didn’t consult anyone.
public opinion and elections
-72% of Europeans did not want involvement in Syria. Many gov’s reluctant to go to war, however, controversial in UK and France where they still intervened.
Sources of Foreign Policy
- media
- Interest groups
Media:
- Key role in information which can indirectly influence leaders.
- ‘Framing’ used which use elements of a story to help shape public opinion.
- Tony Blair used media to announce Iraq had nuclear weapons but the Chilcot Inquiry after the war said Saddam Hussain was no urgent threat to the UK and therefore the war was ultimately unnecessary.
Interest Groups
- Share common political concerns to persuade leaders and public to back policies.
Factors which shape FP?
Geography:
- Countries in neighbourhood eg China and India (Chinese aggression over Tibet border)
Economic Development
- Sources and wealth can influence
- E.g Countries with stronger economic ties may have stronger military power and influence more in global affairs.
Relative National Capabilities.
- Demography, territorial expanse, natural resources, technological and scientific exploration.
Why states change their FP?
Political isolation gave rise to the Nazi party
- threatened US
- Changed policy to more internationalism appeal for states to engage with them.
Gorbachev - replaced FP to include increased shared interests in the west and accepted greater political freedom in Eastern Europe.
What is security and What are the main security threats?
Natural Disasters - Global warming Poverty Economic crash Refugee crisis nuclear wars
security can give a sense of urgency and importance which can cause the realm of democratic values - leading to violence and secrecy.
Examples:
Yemen War - The US, UK and Egypt opted to support Saudi Arabia in the war against Yemen by military power and critics argue whether the countries should be supporting as it has killed thousands of innocent civilians and there is no end in sight to it.
Rationale over nuclear weapons
