Foreign Policy: Determinants & Objectives

Foreign policy is one of the important aspects in the field of international relations. In this
globalized world it is not possible for any state to live in isolation and without maintaining inter-
state relations. Therefore, to maintain such relations with other states of the world, a state has
to formulate a foreign policy.
Foreign policy consists of two words ‘foreign’ which implies territorially sovereign units which
exist beyond the legal boundaries of a particular state and ‘policy’ means guide to an action or a
set of actions intended for the realization the goals of an organization. Foreign policy involves
the strategies and tactics and commitments too which are taken for the fulfilment of a state’s
goals and interests.
The foreign policy encompasses the strategic framework and approach adopted by a
government when engaging with other nations and international entities. Broadly speaking,
foreign policy is formed by the type of activities and behaviors associated with its own interests
related to other states. It is the decision-making process for pursuing certain international
activities.

Internal Determinants of Foreign Policy

 Culture & History:

The cultural heritage and the history of a nation are again important and valuable factors of its
Foreign Policy. The norms and traditions that characterize the life of the people of a state are
highly influential factors of its foreign policy.

Strong cultural unity of the people is always a source of strength for them. It materially
influences their ability to secure the objectives of national interest during the course of
international bargaining. Historical experiences and cultural links further help them to analyze
and assess the nature and scope of relations with other nations. Indeed, the weakness of the
foreign policies of most of the Asian and African states has been largely due to the presence of
internal dissensions and conflicts among their peoples.

Example: Relations between Senegal and Gambia. Colonialism is another factor for connecting
states
  Geography, Size & Population:

Geography of a state is relatively the most permanent and stable factor of its foreign Policy. The
topography of land, its fertility, climate and location are the major geographic factors which
influence the Foreign Policy of a nation. Suitable geographical factors can help and encourage
the nation to adopt and pursue higher goals. 

The size of a state is an important factor of its Foreign Policy. Size influences the psychological
and operational environment within which the foreign policy-makers and public respond. It
includes both human and non-human resources. Nations with large human and non-human
resources always try to be big powers and they have better chances of becoming big powers in
international relations.

Size has been a factor in the foreign policies of the U.S.A., Russia, China, India, Brazil, France
and others. Large sized states, with few exceptions, always formulate and use an active Foreign
Policy and through it these play an active role in international relations.

However, size alone is not an independent determinant of foreign policy. Resources and
capabilities of the state are not always dependent upon size. The countries of the Middle East,
even with small sizes but with the largest quantity of oil resources, have been playing quite an
active role in international relations. Japan is relatively a small sized state and yet its role in
international relations has been active and influential.

 Economic Development & Natural Resources

One of the main reasons why the US Foreign Policy has been very often successful in securing
its national objectives, particularly in relation to the poor and economically lowly placed states
of the world is the high degree of its economic development. The developed countries of our
times are highly industrialized and economically developed states. These can use foreign aid as a
tool for securing their foreign policy goals.

The level and nature of economic development, industrialization and modernization are
important factors of foreign policy. The rise of India and China as economic power has shaped
the foreign policy in not only Indo-Pacific regions but world as well.

 Military Capabilities
The capability of a state to defend its borders against armed aggression plays a profound role in
both internal and external policies that states make. Militarily capable states exercise greater
independence from external forces in the formulation of their foreign policy. Examples, US,
China and Russia etc.
States with weak or low military capabilities tend to be more salient in the pursue of their
policy goals and most often depend on ally seeking with greater powers and international
organizations for their protection.

 Political System
The political organization and institutions in a country, also greatly influences the foreign policy
of that country.
Generally, under authoritarian or totalitarian forms of government, easier and faster foreign
decisions are possible because the decision-making power rests with an individual assisted by
his group.
Decision making under such closed systems have often lead to a country’s isolation in
international politics as happened with the regimes in North Korea and Myanmar.
Foreign policy implementation with democratic process tends to be difficult and slow.
Democratic leaders tend to respond to the public demands and formulate a foreign policy
according to it.

 Personality and Character of the Leader

The differences among the leaders are also influential inputs of a foreign policy. Pakistani
Foreign Policy, under the influence of the ideas of General Musharraf, has undergone a big
change. India’s decision to develop nuclear weapons was definitely made under the influence of
the ideas and the world- view of BJP leaders, who came to be power holders in 1998. The
foreign policy of each nation is influenced by the personalities of its leaders. The change in
leadership often produces a change in the foreign policy of a nation.
Leaders have been categorized into two: ‘hawks’—those who advocate an aggressive foreign
policy based on strong military power, and ‘doves’—those who are termed as conciliatory and
try to resolve international conflicts without the threat of force.
Example: The rise of strong leaders like Narendra Modi and Donald Trump has shaped the
foreign policy of their nations in recent past.

 Political Parties and Interests Groups

Political Parties have a greater say in the foreign policies of their countries and usually voice
their interest directly or through interest groups. Under multiparty system and coalition
governments, political parties (i.e., the opposition party) always have conflicting views and
interests, which may alter the formulation of foreign policy.
Due to the increase in interconnectedness and the rapid growth of globalization, pressure
groups have more interests in the foreign policies of states. They influence these policies when
interacting with states at the international and domestic level.

External Determinants of Foreign Policy

 The International System

A prevalent framework of world politics plays decisive role in deciding the foreign policy of a
country. As such foreign policies of states thus changes with shifts in the international power
structure. In the traditional multi-polar system, it was easier for states to switch sides and gain
maximum interests from both sides.
International system, like unipolar, bipolar and multipolar also determine state’s foreign
policy inclination.
Example: The impact of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the rise of Communist Power in China
in 1949

 International Law
The existence of international law and international norms limits the freedom of states in the
system.
It is constituted by interstate agreements and treaties and thus, does not entirely favor every
interest a state may have. It limits a state in one way or another.
International law regulates the foreign policy of states, and has a binding function in foreign
policy as it offers a legal framework through which states should interact

 International Organization
These include international law, the U.N.O., and its activities, UNESCO, I.L.O, W.H.O., I.M.F., etc.
The nations cannot completely ignore international law, treaties, and contracts so that their
violations may not put in danger policies. Almost all countries are also members of the U. N O.
Its decisions and activities affect the foreign policy of many nations. Communist China, for a
long time, ignored international organizations and consequently could not secure its due
position in the sphere of international relations. In 1971 she became a member of the U.N.O.,
and this fact caused several shifts in China’s foreign policy.

 Alliances
Alliance formation is considered as a strategy that states use in the formulation and
implementation of their foreign policies.
An agreement between two or more states to work together on mutual security issues.
The alliance partner believe that they can improve their overall power position within the
international system and their security relative to states outside the alliance.
Example: Alliance before WWI. WWII and during Cold War

 Arm Race
Arm race are a competitive defense spending and military capability building between two
states or bloc of states (like the cold war).
Examples of such states locked in long-term rivalries with other states include India-Pakistan,
China-India, North-South Korea, and Turkey-Greece.