Theories of Foreign Policy and International Relations (Part 1/12)

Summary

This script explores the complexities of comparative diplomacy and foreign policy, emphasizing the challenges in understanding and theorizing the diplomatic process. It traces the history of international relations from the post-World War I period, highlighting the division between realist and idealist theories. Using the Cuban Missile Crisis as a case study, it introduces Graham Allison's three models of foreign policy decision-making: rational actor, organizational process, and governmental politics. The evolution of diplomacy, rooted in the Westphalian system, underscores the continuous struggle between state sovereignty and the pursuit of global peace.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Comparative diplomacy and foreign policy involve studying the complex processes that precede diplomatic activity and foreign policy decisions.
• 🎓 The field of diplomatic studies is a branch of international relations that has historically resisted theorization due to its intricate nature.
• 📚 International relations as a discipline began in 1918, with the establishment of the first professorship in the name of Woodrow Wilson, inspired by his principles for international conduct.
• 💡 The discipline of international relations is divided into two broad camps: realists, who focus on statecraft and power projection, and idealists, who emphasize non-state actors and global understanding.
• 🤔 The formulation of foreign policy is challenging to theorize and understand due to the multitude of factors and actors involved.
• 🚀 Graham Allison's models of foreign policy formulation include the rational actor model, organizational process model, and governmental politics model, reflecting different influences on policy decisions.
• 🌟 The Cuban Missile Crisis serves as a case study where Allison's models were applied, showing the interplay between rational decision-making and organizational dynamics.
• 📜 Diplomacy has ancient roots, with examples from the Elizabethan age highlighting its long-standing importance in international relations.
• 🏛️ The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 established key principles of the modern international system, including the secular nature of international relations and state sovereignty.
• 🌍 The Westphalian system set the stage for diplomacy by recognizing the need for rules and agreements to govern transactions between states with differing interests and policies.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the course on comparative diplomacy and foreign policy?

The course focuses on case studies of the diplomatic and foreign policy processes that precede diplomatic activity, aiming to understand the complexities of these processes in the context of today's world.

Why is it challenging to theorize diplomatic studies?

Diplomatic studies are challenging to theorize because they involve complex practices that are not fully understood even by professional diplomats, and the field of international relations, where diplomatic studies is a branch, is relatively new and has resisted theorization.

When did the discipline of international relations begin, and what event marked its inception?

The discipline of international relations began in 1918 at the end of World War One, marked by the establishment of a chair in the name of Woodrow Wilson at the Versailles conference.

What are the two broad camps into which the discipline of international relations is divided?

The discipline of international relations is divided into two broad camps: realists, who believe in statecraft and the projection of power for state interests, and idealists or utopians, who propose the involvement of non-state actors and the pursuit of world peace and universal understanding.

What was the significance of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis in understanding foreign policy formulation?

The Cuban Missile Crisis was significant as it led to the proposal of three basic models of foreign policy formulation by Graham Allison: the rational actor model, the organizational process model, and the governmental politics model.

What is the rational actor model in foreign policy formulation?

The rational actor model posits that foreign policy is formed by a single decision-maker, such as a president, who acts rationally to achieve state interests, as exemplified by President Kennedy's decision-making during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

How does the organizational process model differ from the rational actor model?

The organizational process model suggests that foreign policy is not made by a single actor but is influenced by various organizational entities such as ministries, advisors, and government departments, each contributing different advice and perspectives.

What is the governmental politics model as proposed by Graham Allison?

The governmental politics model posits that foreign policy decisions may be influenced by internal governmental conflicts and politics, where decisions serve internal needs rather than addressing external threats.

Why was the presence of the Moroccan ambassador in Elizabethan England significant?

The presence of the Moroccan ambassador in Elizabethan England was significant because it demonstrated early cosmopolitan diplomacy and the seeking of alliances beyond Europe, particularly with the Islamic world, during a time when England was isolated from Catholic Europe.

What was the core agreement of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648?

The core agreement of the Peace of Westphalia was to establish a secular international system that respected the sovereignty of states, granting them legal personality and protected status within international relations.

How did Woodrow Wilson's ideas contribute to the development of public international multilateral diplomacy?

Woodrow Wilson's ideas contributed to the development of public international multilateral diplomacy by advocating for an end to secret diplomacy and the establishment of principles for building peace, leading to the formation of international organizations alongside established states.