LEL 4114: FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS (Module 2)

The World Stage

The international environment is the setting for states to pursue foreign policy

Pluralism, Realism, Global Systems

Perspectives of the State according to IR Lenses

Institutional State, Quasi-State, Clustered State

Perspectives of the State according to the Historical-Sociological Lens

Pluralism

highlighted the role of non-state actors through the notion of interdependence

Realism

emphasized the primacy of the state in determining IR

Global Systems

saw state behavior as derived from the exigencies imposed by socio-economic/politico -military structures

Institutional States

sees the state as an 'actual organization

Quasi-states

Refers to states in the Global South

Possess judicial statehood but have fragmented and incomplete institutions

they lack the institutions able to constrain and outlast the individuals occupying their offices; belligerent states

Clustered States

Emerged as a product of the Cold War's division among states (First World, Second World, Third World division)

States that are pooling their sovereignty and use of the means of violence and authority numbers of international institutions

extensions of institutional states (EU, ASEAN); entails geographical proximity

Weberian epistemology, first wave, second wave

Institutional Conceptions of the State

Weberian epistemology

State/society dominate and

competition

Relative autonomy of the state

Organization that responds to

the external international

environment

First wave

A set of administrative, policing and military organizations led by an executive authority

Traditional understanding of the state using the monopoly of power

Second wave

The state is composed of several points

A differentiated set of institutions and personnel embodying centrality

Political relations radiate to and from a center. Covers a territorially

Exercises some degree of

authoritative, binding rule-making, backed up by some organized physical force

Super powers, emerging power, developing countries

Size and Power

Superpowers

States that have the ability to project their power to the world. These are countries endowed with greater capabilities and has utilized it to effectively project power globally

Emerging power

States that are increasingly able to project its power trying to match the capabilities and use of capabilities by existing superpower

Developing country

Countries that are not that technologically advanced and industrialized. Most post-colonized states which gained independence.

Weak states, failed states

other classification of states

Weak states

Countries with ineffective institutions of government. Most of the time interchanged with small states

Failed states

failure of institutions of government to control state's territory. The absence of effective institutions of government.

Middle powers and great powers

Focuses on survival and legitimizing themselves in the realm

Middle powers

states that can wield a measure of influence, albeit not through the projection of military might (i.e., Singapore)

a. Have some semblance of influence in their realms

Great powers

has the political,

economic, and military strength to exert influence on a global scale

a. Similar capacity to project their influence, but not as powerful/dominant as Super Powers (i.e., the US)

Regional power

A state that has the resources to exert influence in its own region of the world

Small states

have a rather limited capacity to exert influence on other states

a. Smaller range of instruments they can effectively employ in their relations w/ other states

Interdependence

Structure of a state's interaction w/ other states

Suggests that relations between states is based on mutuality & equality

Dependence

asymmetric pattern of interactions between a more and a less powerful state

Consensus-oriented

leaders of a small state voluntarily align their external policy with that of a larger more powerful state that has the capacity to exert influence over them

Compliant Foreign Policy

A more powerful state has the capacity to pressure the smaller state's leaders to align their foreign policy with it; submission out of fear, etc.

Counter dependent Foreign Policy

defiant reaction to dependence. Leaders are frustrated with dependent nature and attempt to reduce their dependence

One way to do effective counterdependent FP is to do it w/ other states

Compensation

antagonization of global superpowers in order to appease a domestic audience

In response to domestic claims from domestic sources

High demand from people to pursue a particular FP

Natural role conception

● States play certain roles in the international environment

● Implies that there are types of FP decisions & behaviors that are appropriate for a state undertake

Soft power

Ability to shape the preferences of othersRelies on what a country represents