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02/05/2023
50.501 Introduction to IR(04)
Foreign Policy Decision Making
Lecturer: Nirosha Seelaratne International Pacific College
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Strategies of governments use to guide their actions toward other states
Different states use different strategies
What is a foreign policy ?
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Think
How do you make important decisions in your life ?
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It is a decision making processForeign policy process
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5 steps of decision making1.Identifying/clarifying the decision to be made(Identifying the situation)
2. Identifying possible decision options
3. Gathering/processing information(choose)
4. Making/implementing the decision(act)
5. Evaluating the decision
Decision making
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1. Rational actor(Rational Choice) or unitary Government model
2. Organizational process model3. Government politics model
Models of foreign policy decision making
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This theory(model emerged as a political analysis tool during 1950’s
End of the WWII and beginning of the cold war)
prominence of Realist thought in international relations, particularly in the US
1. Rational actor or Unitary Government model
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Basic assumptions:1.People are rational2. Rationality does not carry any suggestions of normative behavior
Rational actor or Unitary Government model
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1.Clarify goals
2.Order them by importance
3.List the alternatives for achieving the goals
4.Investigate the consequences of each alternative
5.Chose alternative that best achieves the goals
Rational actor or Unitary Government model
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Psychological stresses acting on leaders during a crisis( Actors are not always in a perfect situation to make decisions)
Threat to important valuesGovernments are made of individuals with different goals
Rational actor or Unitary Government model: Criticisms? limitations
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“management by muddling through”
Relying on standardized responses or standard operating procedures
2. Organizational process model
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Policy decisions result from the bargaining process among various government agencies
3. Government bargaining model
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EVERY INTERNATIONAL EVENT IS THE RESULT,
INTENDED OR UNINTENDED OF DECISIONS MADE BY
INDIVIDUALS
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Harry Truman and WWII
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Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe
Case study (1)
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BureaucraciesInterest GroupsPublic OpinionLegislatures
Factors influence foreign policy decisions
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All states maintain a foreign service
Diplomats working in embassies in foreign capitals
States appoint ambassadors as their official representative
Diplomatic activities are organized through a foreign ministry
Some diplomats are political appointees and some are career diplomats
1.Bureaucracies
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Embassy: represents the diplomatic office of a country in the capital of another country.
High commission: commonwealth countries use this term in their countries to represent the embassy of one country into another country
Consulate: represents the branch office of a country’s embassy into another country
Embassy, High Commission & consulate
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Coalition of people who share a common interest
Businesses, labour unions, churches, veterans, senior citizens,
Lobby groups
2.Interest Groups
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The process of talking with legislators, officials to influence their decisions
3 important elements of lobbying:a) Ability to gain a hearing with busy
officialsb) Ability to present convincing argument
for one’s casec) Ability to trade favour in return for
positive action
Lobbying
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Governments need legitimacy to survive
Legitimacya institution or ruler has the right to govern
Popular acceptance of authority
3. Public opinion
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Propaganda Evil propaganda techniques of NazisPostersAnti-Semitism - Scapegoating of minoritiesRadio - Controlling mass mediaFilm and Cinema - Controlling the social sphereNewspapers - Controlling the press
Governments tools to get public support
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Anti-Communist Propaganda - Demonizing political opposition
Mythology, Folktales and Religion - Focus on a national myth
Music and Opera - Absorbing high culture
The Fuhrer (Leader)
Nazi propaganda
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9fEM-MfSiU
Hitler
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Personalities, values, beliefs and common psychological factors of individuals
Psychology of groups (mis perception, selective perception, emotional biases
Other factors influence policy decision making
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Thank You
