Foreign policy

The concept of foreign policy includes the sum of all actions, intentions and declarations of a state that is directed at other, anchored outside its territory, political actors. A foreign policy extends to both different areas, such as security policy, foreign trade policy or foreign cultural policy.

Foreign policy from a political science perspective

" From a theoretical perspective, foreign policy is understood as a process of interaction in which attempts to implement fundamental goals and values ​​to compete with the other states a state. "

" The foreign policy in the common sense refers to the actions of a state that target addressees in other States or international organizations. "

In practice, this action of a State (or a federation of states ) are primarily generated by its political representatives, for example through its executive ( represented inter alia by the Secretary of State ). The current political and administrative representation of the foreign policy of a country to another usually takes an ambassador.

It falls short of equating the objectives of the external action with the interests of the respective states, since this action is also determined by value judgments and domestic political calculations of utility of the actors as well as by rules and institutions of the international system. A " public interest " is not defined by itself, but is determined by the relevant actors determined (see discussion between realism and constructivism). Therefore, the foreign policy is usually located in a field of tension between ideal and material interests.

In political science is concerned especially the part area of ​​international relations with the foreign policy of various states and thereby shaped interaction with the system.

Influences on foreign policy

The foreign policy of a state is influenced by numerous factors. After older paradigms (realism ) are in particular the geographical location, the availability of raw materials; the size of the population; technical, military and economic strength and the level of education of the population decisive.

More recent approaches (eg constructivism) assume that foreign policy is fundamentally influenced by the operating entities and constellations. The interests and the scope of action of these persons is first individually very different and 2 embossed inside politically. So there told simplistic a foreign policy as part of the government ( in a democracy ), the elementary interest " re-election ", he will be in foreign policy is not committed to goals that would jeopardize his re-election obvious, even if he close circumstances these goals personally. Moreover, such a commitment would not only have the risk of personal disadvantages, but would also be barely ratified, that would have no effect. (see Robert Putnam's Two - Level Games). Accordingly, the stability of the foreign policy is often present results also changing governments away from the slower- changing global orientation and mood in a state.

Since the beginning of industrialization, energy policy has a decisive influence on foreign policy. Energy sources for developing countries is crucial. Poverty is often caused by lack of access to energy. Because of these crucial importance of energy issues, energy policy has a major influence on foreign policy. As fossil energy resources are unevenly distributed in the world, securing the influence on the transport routes and the deposits of fossil fuels is an important motif in the energy and thus the foreign policy.

Nature of the foreign policy

The foreign policy of most countries is characterized by a certain longer-term continuity ( foreign policy interests ). The reasons for this are many:

Foreign policy initially mostly only in nuances, possibly accent shifts are possible - For these reasons, changes even when a change of government - at least democratically legitimated the succession of governments. ( Just because the foreign policy of states is often characterized by long-term continuity and a relatively low degree of political controversy, it has been described by previous authors of this article as " a tough, drawn-out affair .") In general, there are also little foreign policy objectives in choice programs. However, this is also due to that expressed in those usually pointed to positions of topics that will be discussed controversially in the national public. This is often by economic, social or socio-political in the broad sense, but it is rare to foreign policy issues. An interesting exception to this rule - which applies to a variety of countries - is the German attitude in the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iraq in the summer of 2002, which has played a significant role in the election campaign, and probably also for the close outcome of the election.

In addition to the rule " With no foreign policy to win elections! " Well- European policy exception. In many European countries, for example, protest parties have achieved electoral success with anti-European campaigns. However, this raises the question of whether European policy (i.e., the design of the policy in the EU ) considering its thematic breadth, and its direct impact on the legal, economic, etc. conditions in the Member States at all yet covered by the term "foreign policy".

Quotes

" The great nations are not made from the inside but the outside; only a skillful foreign policy, a policy of major companies, allows a fruitful domestic policies that ultimately always is of lesser depth. "

"Between States there is no friendship, but only interests. "