Comparative Foreign Policy Exam 2

Structural characteristics

• The organization of authority

• The actors

• Power relationships

• Economic patterns

• Norms of behavior

• National actors

• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOS)

• Transnational organizations (NGOS, MNCS)

System-Level of Analysis actors

Organization of authority (System-Level of Analysis)

• Range of vertical (hierarchical) to horizontal (anarchical, fragmented) authority structures

• International system-state-centric system- based mostly on horizontal authority structure

Number of system poles

Rules of the game and issues of stability differ in unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar systems

Concentration of power

Power equality vs. power inequality between poles

• Power equation is always in flux

• Cycle theories

• Balance of power politics

Power changes due to… (System-Level of Analysis)

Cycle theories (Gilpin)

States were still the key actors in the realm of economic relations and that security interests remained a key determinant of state behavior in economic affairs

Economic patterns (System-Level of Analysis)

• Important influence of natural resource production and consumption to international politics

• Uneven distribution of wealth

• Increasing economic interdependence

Norms of behavior (System-Level of Analysis)

• Constantly changing and being challenged

• Influenced by transnational forces

• Greater emphasis on human rights and the global environment

• Weakening support for war

Travel, trade, and communication

Transnational forces

Great power foreign policy goals

• Maintain great power status

• Prevent other great powers from rising

Great power foreign policy methods

• Use force

• Mostly use the threat of force

• Establish and international system to maintain position (i.e., economic, political, military insitutions)

Middle/secondary power foreign policy goals

• Maintain secondary power stattus

• Become a great power

Middle/secondary power foreign policy methods

• Free ride in the international system and align with great powers

• Challenge the system and the great power

Small power foreign policy

• Opportunity and willingness

• Patron-Client relationship

• All are based on predetermined relations

Imperial overstretch

Difficulty managing interests abroad

Shadows of the past

Historic experiences that violated moral principles

• Territorial expansion & Native American populations

• Importation of slaves from Africa

• Continued intervention in Latin America

• CIA missions overseas

• Reports of mistreatment overseas and at home during the war on terrorism

Asymmetric warfare

• “Weapons of the weak”

• Unconventional tactics (terrorism)

• Exploitation of vulnerable institutions

• Paradox of fewer attacks but increased destruction and casualities

Terrorism

• Politically motivated

• Non-state actors

• Deliberately unpredictable to maximize psychological effects

• Civilian and non-civilian targets

• Form of symmetric warfare

Paradox of US Power

The same factors that helped promote the growth of US power now also threaten its effective use

• National exceptionalism

• Conflicts among diffusion of domestic institutions

• Numerous civil (nonstate) actors involved in the foreign policy process

Three aspects of the paradox of US power

National exceptionalism

Unique cultural roots

• Cultural and historical influences affecting world view

• Geographical independence

• Independence from outside actors

• Fewer class divisions than European powers of the time

Cultural roots of the paradox

National exceptionalism

Moral, ethical, and political superiority to other nations

Branches

Political institutions that govern and constrict the behavior of actors

Congress

Members, committees, and chambers

Presidency

Staff, offices, and agencies

Courts

Political versus legal issues

Invitation to struggle

• No clear lead agency

• Competition and vagueness of power and sovereignty in decision-making

Pervasive civil society

• Forces outside government (Public opinion, media, interest groups, and IGOS)

• Openness in the political system for transnational groups

Active measures

Information warfare strategy to sow chaos and confusion in target countries

Parliamentary system

United Kingdom government type

UK Consitution

Lack of a written constitution

• Ethics & openness (Aid & development, human rights)

• Orientation & identity (Bridge between EU and USA)

Tony Blair administration foreign policy

Thatcher foreign policy

Greatly embraced transatlantic relations with US president Ronald Reagan

Brexit

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU

Parliamentary democracy

German government

German executive branch

Head of state (President & Chancellor) , cabinet (bundesminister)

German legislative branch

Bicameral parliament (Bundesrat)

German judicial branch

Bundesverfassungsgericht

Grundgesetz

Aims to ensure the mistakes of the Third Reich are not repeated

• Lower house can only pass “constructive vote of no confidence”

• Parties seeking to overturn democracy are unconsitutional

• War-making unconsitutitional

Security, reunification, and economic ratification

Three main objectives between 1949-1990

Basic Law

German constitution

Semi-presidential system

France government type

Bicameral (Senate & National Assembly)

French Legislative branch

Chief of state, Head of government, and cabinet

French Executive branch

• Rejected the idea of an integrated Europe

• Supported a Europe composed of states detached from the USA

Foreign policy under Charles de Gaulle

Franco-German Treaty of Friendship

Provided close cooperation between the two countries in foreign affairs, defense, and education. Yet, no specific binding commitments were made