Unlock the Intricacies of Global Diplomacy with Expert-Crafted Foreign Policy Analysis Notes
4 views 0 purchase
Course
Foreign Policy Analysis (2402300)
Institution
Chulalongkorn University
Dive into the complex world of global diplomacy and state interactions with our meticulously prepared Foreign Policy Analysis notes. Spanning from week 1 to 7, these notes are tailored for high school students looking to deepen their understanding of how countries navigate the treacherous waters of...
What is foreign Policy? Foreign policy is a guide to actions taken beyond the boundaries of state to further the goal of the state .
State as the ‘center’ of analysis
What is ‘state?
A state is a political community of persons more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, having a
government of their own to which the great body of inhabits render obedience, and enjoying freedom from external control
There are 4 elements of state:
1. Population - a group of people living together in a defined area
a. The people living in the states are considered to be ‘citizens’ of that state, they get to enjoys the rights and freedom of being a
citizen.
b. The people living in the territory of the state are bound to obey the state laws and policies
2. Territory - a specific geographic area that the state controls
a. It is a defined and well-marked territorial state, it cannot exist in the air or the sea but it can include portion of coastal areas
(i.e river, lakes, canals inland, maritime belt).
b. Everything (i.e person, organisation, institutions, associations and palces) is under the
supreme power of the state
3.. Government - the body that makes and enforces laws for the people living within the territory
a. Sovereignty belongs to the state but the government uses it on behalf of the state. Each government has 3 organs,
1) legislature
2) executives
3) judiciary
4. Sovereignty - the right of the state to govern itself without outside interference
a. Without sovereignty no state can exist. State has the exclusive power over its people and territory, where it can regulate all aspects
of people living in its territory
b. Sovereignty has two dimensions,
1) internal sovereignty - the power of the state to order and regulate the activities of all the people within its territory and they
must act in accordance with the laws of the state. State can punish them if they violate the laws.
2) external sovereignty - complete independence of the state from external control
In the absence of one element, a state cannot be considered a state
Internal Sovereignty External Sovereignty
• freedom-from
• freedom-to
• unlimited freedom from
• ultimate freedom to interfere
interference from the outside
within — they have the ability
— no other countries have the
to control, make laws, set
right to invade, interfere or
boundaries and use force
change the way of living or
governance
, A country can follow the concept of statehood but would still not get recognize as a ‘state’, for instance, Taiwan which has its own
autonomy to exercise internal sovereignty and government but it is not received international recognition. Subsequently, a part of
statehood is recognition and when it does not receive proper recognition it is not considered a state.
The 3 pillars of (conventional) power
1. economy - financial strength and resource of a country. A strong economy allow for a country to invest in its military, diplomacy and
other areas that can help it influence its power on the world stage as well as increase its bargaining power.
2. military - it refers to the armed forces of a country (i.e army, navy, air force) and a strong military can make other countries think twice
before attacking and protect a country's interest abroad
3. politics - the government and its ability to influence other countries through diplomacy, alliance and international organisation. A
country with a strong political influence can shape global norms and rule in its favour
Level of Analysis
1. individual level --> looking at the leader’s personality, perception, activities and choices or the small group of decision makers
2. domestic level: domestic politics (state) —> government, economy, interest groups, national interest
a. i.e During the Trump administration, Donald Trump was heavily criticized by the public for not having an indoor-pacific strategy until
2019 where he came up with his but many suspected that the Pentagon came up with it
b. Bureaucratic politics
• bureaucrats that see eye-to-eye on the same issue but they compete for the same resources
• i.e during the monthly budget discussion, the minister of defense and the ministry of finance have a heated argument over
which ministry should get more money, so they have more funding to invest in projects
3. international level: international climate, international system and organization --> alliances, intergovernmental organizations,
multinational corporations, international norms/rules
a. During the Trump administration he tried to isolate the US through trying to get out of international institutions or agreements like
WHO & Paris Agreement
How to analyze foreign policy? (i.e Trump administration)
• Individual level —> himself (personality & belief) and key advisor
• domestic level —> lobby & interest groups + competition between the executive and congress + bureaucratic politics
• international level —> balance of power, international norms and institutions and actions of other states or
transnational actors
Grand Theory
What is the ‘grand theory’? It is a framework for understanding and explaining complex political phenomena by looking at
the world through difference lenses
• It is a giant roadmap explaining how politics and the world work through providing a broad view of things
• It often try to explain why countries go to war? how leaders get power? Why people vote in certain ways?
• Some grand theories, like realism, claim predictive power based on factors like military capabilities and policy guidelines.
• Predictions in social sciences are always uncertain, and grand theories are just one tool for understanding complex issues.
Examples
• Realism: This grand theory focuses on power struggles between countries. It believes countries always act in their own selfish interests.
• Liberalism: This one is about cooperating! It believes countries can work together for common goals like peace and trade.
• Marxism: This dives into how rich and poor people affect politics. It thinks money and class create conflict and change.
• Neo-liberalism: Focuses on how trade creates interdependence between countries.
• Constructivism: Examines how ideas and perceptions shape international relations.
, Limitations
• oversimplification - due to complexities of global issues, they can sometimes oversimplify complex realities hence it is unable to capture all the
nuances of specific situations.
• lack of precision - it might not be able to provide precise or accurate predictions like other political theories since it focuses on specific aspect
of politics
• There is no ‘universally accepted grand theory’ in political science, different theories gives different interpretations of a political phenomena
Mid-range Theory
What is the ‘mid-range theory’? Mid-range theories are like middle ground explanations in political science. They are more specific than
grand theories, but less specific than very detailed studies of single events or cases. They focus on
particular aspects of the political world, like a specific policy area or type of political behavior.
• Mid-range theories are good at explaining specific phenomena that grand theories might struggle with.
• They can help us understand the complexities of the real world, where things aren't always clear-cut.
Examples
• Your notes mention the example of Thailand. A grand theory like democratic peace theory might suggest that democracies are less likely to fight
each other. However, this doesn't always hold true, as your notes point out.
• A mid-range theory might focus on specific factors that can influence whether democracies go to war, such as historical rivalries, disputes over
resources, or the presence of strong leaders who prioritize military conflict.
Limitation
• Mid-range theories are not as ambitious as grand theories in their scope, but they can provide more nuanced explanations for specific
phenomena.
• Grand theories are like giant maps of the whole political world. They try to explain everything, but sometimes in a simple way.
• Mid-Range Theories: Zooming In
• Mid-range theories are more like looking at a specific town on the map. They focus on a particular thing – why countries with similar
leaders act differently, or how cities make their budgets. They provide more details than the big picture view.
• Ambitious vs. Nuanced
• "Ambitious" means trying to do HUGE things. Grand theories want to explain everything about politics.
• "Nuanced" means understanding the tiny differences in things that seem similar.
• Example:
• Grand theory: "Democracies don't fight each other." (Trying to explain all wars with just one idea)
• Mid-range theory "Democracies might fight if they have a history of conflict." (Adding more details for a better explanation)
Good Theories
• In political science, good theories are those that help us understand and explain the political world. They should:
• Be clear and well-defined: The theory should have clear terms and ideas that are easy to understand.
• Be logically consistent: The theory should not have contradictions within itself.
• Be falsifiable: It should be possible to test the theory and see if it holds true in the real world.
• Be useful: The theory should help us explain and predict political events and processes.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller yingputtarak. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.89. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
