Foreign Policy

							Exploring Foreign Policy
       Divya Susarla
        21st   Century World
Today’s globalized world is understood
by examining the actions and the
reactions of approximately 192 nation-
states towards each other.
     •192 Nations are members in the
     United Nations (2010)
     •204 “Nations” Participated in the
     2008 Beijing Olympics
         The Nation-State
The Nation - is a cultural and/or ethnic entity.

The State – is a political and geopolitical entity.

The Nation-State is an area (territory) defined
                         i
by specific borders, inhabited by people who
                         s
share a common culture (although the population
can be ethnically diverse) and who are governed
by a central government.
      What is meant by the term
           foreign policy?
   Foreign policy consists of strategies
    chosen by the state to safeguard its
    national interests and to achieve its goals
    in international relations.

   States must interact with other countries
    as well as non-state actors.
Why does a nation-state develop a
        foreign policy ?
1) To protect its territory

                        Demilitarized Zone
                             (Korea)




 U.S. – Mexico Border                        Cyprus – UN Green
        Fence                                       Line
    Why does a nation-state
   develop a foreign policy ?
2) To ensure the well being of the people in
 a nation state.
   Why does a nation-state
   develop a foreign policy ?
3) To maintain the nation state’s sphere
of influence through Hard Power and
Soft Power.
In International Relations, sphere of
influence is an area or region over
which a state or organization has
significant cultural, economic, military,
or political influence.
        Sphere of Influence:
            Hard Power
 Hard Power: refers to national power that
  comes from military strength or economic
  sanctions.
      Sphere of Influence:
          Soft Power
Soft Power: refers to power that comes from
economic or cultural means; allows nations to
exert their influence without using military
means.




     Examples include: Trade Agreements & Sanctions,
     Foreign Aid, Diplomacy , Cultural Exchanges
The state is the primary actor of
         foreign policy
   Nation State: a sovereign territorial unit
    populated by people who share a common
    history, culture and language.
            Secondary Actors
   Non-State Actors: represent interests and
    exert influence on issues but do not
    exhibit the distinguishing state
    characteristics of legal sovereignty and
    control of territory and people.
Who develops foreign policy for
         the state?
•Foreign policies are designed by the
government through high-level decision
making processes
•Usually, creating foreign policy is the job
of the head of government and the foreign
minister (or equivalent)
•In some countries the legislature also has
considerable oversight
      Who creates U.S. Foreign Policy?

   Role of the President
    – Has advisors are key to
      developing foreign policy.
      The most important is the
      Secretary of State, then
      come ambassadors.
    – Also has the help of the
      National Security Advisor,
      Department of Defense,
      Commerce, Energy,
      Agriculture, Labor and
      Justice
           Face of Foreign Policy
   Secretary of State: Hillary
    Rodham Clinton
   Advises President on
    foreign policy matters
   Participates in high level
    negotiations with other
    nations
   Communicates issues
    relating to foreign policy
    to Congress and U.S.
    citizens
      Who Makes United States Foreign
                 Policy?
   U.S. State Department
     – Lead government agency for developing and
       implementing foreign policy
     – Protect and assist U.S. citizens living or traveling
       abroad
     – Assist U.S. businesses in the international
       marketplace
     – Keep public informed about U.S. foreign policy and
       relations with other countries
      Who Makes United States Foreign
                 Policy?
   Role of Congress
     – The Senate has influence over how U.S. foreign policy
       is conducted and who represents the U.S.
     – The House of Representatives plays an important role
       in passing foreign affairs budgets and tracking how
       the money is used.
Obama Administration: U.S Foreign
     Policy Overview 2011
   Strategic approach to advance American
    interests and maintain security of the American
    people.
    – Refocus on threat from al Qaeda in Afghanistan and
      Pakistan
        Employ strategy to defeat al Qaeda in these countries
    – Responsibly end the war in Iraq
        Remove troops by end of 2011; train, equip and advise Iraqi
         Security Forces
    – Keep nuclear weapons out of terrorists reach
      U.S. Foreign Policy Overview
 Promote peace and security in Israel and the
  Middle East
 Strengthen America’s Alliances
    – Europe, Muslim world, Asia
   Maintain American values
    – Guantanamo Bay closure, prohibit use of torture
   Ensure Energy Security and fight climate change
    – Clean energy economy
Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group (LSG)
     of the Communist Party of China

                      Leading small group
                       of the Communist
                       Party of China
                      Chaired by President
                       Hu Jintao
                      Exercises supervision
                       of foreign affairs
                      Decides on policy
                       making
Face of Foreign Policy
           •   Foreign Minister of the
               Peoples’ Republic of
               China: Yang Jiechi
           •   Meets with foreign
               ministers from other
               countries and other high-
               level officials
           •   Attends summits to
               represent China
           •   Communicates China’s
               stated foreign policy
               goals
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s
                 Republic of China
   Subordinate to the Leading Small Group (LSG)

   Carries out China’s foreign policy

   Responsibilities:
    – Formulates foreign policies, decisions, foreign affairs
      documents and statements regarding the People’s
      Republic of China
    – Negotiates and signs bilateral and multilateral foreign
      treaties and agreements
    – Dispatches foreign affairs representatives to other
      countries
      Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
         People’s Republic of China
   Other Responsibilities:
    – Represents China’s interests in United Nations
      conferences, intergovernmental meetings and
      activities of international organizations
    – Advises the central government in formulating
      diplomatic strategies, guidelines and policies
             China’s Stated
         Foreign Policy Overview
   Basic objectives include:
    – Maintaining independence and state sovereignty

    – Maintaining world peace
        China does not participate in arms race and does
         not seek military expansion

    – Good neighborly and friendly relations and
      cooperation

    – Enhanced unity and cooperation with developing
      countries

    – Open policy
Foreign Policy Discussion Points
   Does a nation’s declared foreign policy (in
    documents or through media) always match the
    real policies and actions of a nation?

   What impacts do international organizations
    (United Nations, World Bank) have on the
    foreign policy positions of individual nations?

   How has 21st century technology impacted
    foreign policy strategies? Consider the recent
    Wiki-leaks.