Power, Capability and instruments of Foreign Policy
- 1. Power , Capability and Instruments Module 2 BY: FARYAL MUSTAQEEM
- 2. Intro to foreign policy: WHAT IS FOREIGN POLICY; âA government's strategy in dealing with other nationsâ According to Professor Gibson: "Foreign policy is well defined comprehensive plan based on knowledge and experience for conducting the business of the government with the rest of the world". According to Professor Joseph Frank: "Foreign policy consists of decisions and actions that involve to some appreciable extant. relations between one state and other" A country's foreign policy, also called foreign relations or foreign affairs policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve goals within its international relations
- 4. Example of foreign policy: Dollar diplomacy of the United Statesâ Particularly during President William Howard Taft's presidential termâ was a form of American foreign policy to aimed at furthering the interests of the United States abroad by encouraging the investment of U.S. capital in foreign countries",. "To build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community". In 2013 China developed a foreign policy known as the Belt and Road Initiative, The Belt and Road Initiative is a large project aiming at improving regional co-operation through better connectivity among countries. The purpose was to promote economic prosperity of the countries along the belt and road and regional economic cooperation, to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, to promote world peace and development
- 5. Power and capability: Power is defined as; âStateâs ability to exercise influence over other states within the international systemâ. Capability is defined as; âThe significant amount of power of the state within international systemâ.
- 6. FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS AND POWER Foreign policy Analysts have assumed that it is the very nature of the international system that is without any recognized central authority for which compels states to pursue a relentless quest for security and wealth. Power in interstate relations maybe defined as a state's ability to control, or at least influence, other states. Power is also a major goal of states foreign policy. The immediate aim of all states is to obtain and to increase power. international politics can be analysed as a struggle between independent units seeking to dominate others The source of state power can be found primarily in its military and economic capability which gives it means to exercise coercive and non coercive influence.
- 7. FORMULATING FOREIGN POLICY Overall national interest, foreign policy goals and the objectives of one stats national security and foreign policy are linked to political stability, economic strength, good governance, vibrant institutions and social cohesion. The making of foreign policy involves a number of stages: Assessment of the international and domestic political environment Goal setting Determination of policy options Formal decision making action Implementation of chosen policy option
- 8. ⢠Assessment of the international and domestic political environment Foreign policy is made and implemented within an international and domestic political context, which must be understood by a state in order to determine the best foreign policy option. ⢠Goal setting A state has multiple foreign policy goals. A state must determine which goal is affected by the international and domestic political environment at any given time. ⢠Determination of policy options â A state must then determine what policy options are available to meet the goal or goals set in light the political environment. This will involve an assessment of the state's capacity implement policy options and an assessment of the consequences of each policy option.
- 9. ⢠Formal decision making action â A formal foreign policy decision will be taken at some level within a government. Foreign policy decisions are usually made by the executive branch of government. Common governmental actors or institutions which make foreign policy decisions include: the head of state (such as a president) or head of government (such as a prime minister), cabinet, or minister. ⢠Implementation of chosen policy option â Once a foreign policy option has been chosen, and a formal decision has been made, then the policy must be implemented. Foreign policy is most commonly implemented by specialist foreign policy arms of the state bureaucracy, such as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs or State Department.
- 11. National interest: âis a country's goals and ambitions, whether economic, military, cultural or otherwise.â The main purpose of foreign policy is to conduct foreign relations to protect national interests and promote them to the best possible advantage. As the national interests of nations keep changing, their foreign policies also undergo change. National interests are also influenced by ideologies. Balance of power: âstates may secure their survival by preventing any one state from gaining enough military power to dominate all others.â Balance of power is important because it is a system in which peace can be kept among a large number of states when there is no hegemon among them. Here, balance of power is important because the two rivals may go to war if one gets more power than the other.
- 12. INSTRUMENTS OF FOREIGN POLICY There are four major instruments that conduct foreign policy including ď DIPLOMACY ď MILITARY POLICIES ď FOREIGN AID ď TRADE Diplomacy: Diplomacy is the main instrument of foreign policy, which consists of the broader goals and strategies that guide a state's interactions with the rest of the world. Military policy: Military policy can be defined as a set of activities carried out mainly by the representatives of the defence department, as well as other state institutions, aimed at pursuing the foreign policy interests of the state in the field of security and defence policy.
- 13. Foreign aid âmoney, food, or other resources given or lent by one country to another.â Foreign aid is money that one country voluntarily transfers to another, which can take the form of gift, a grant or a loan. In the United States, the term usually refers only to military and economic assistance the federal government provides to other governments. Trade âForeign trade is exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories.â Foreign trade creates an opportunity for the produces to reach beyond the domestic markets. Producers can sell their produce not only in markets located within the country but can also compete in markets located in other countries of the world.