4 Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Free Online FlashCards

What is foreign policy?

Foreign policy is the set of goals and actions through which a government manages relations with other countries and international actors.

What goals can foreign policy pursue?

Foreign policy may pursue security, economic prosperity, influence, or shared aims such as resolving a regional dispute.

What stages commonly shape a foreign-policy decision?

Officials commonly identify an issue, gather information, weigh options, authorize and carry out an action, then assess its results. Events can send them back to earlier stages.

What does the rational-choice perspective assume?

It treats the government as a unified actor that defines objectives, compares likely costs and benefits, and chooses the option expected to best serve its interests.

What does the organizational perspective emphasize?

It emphasizes how agencies’ established procedures and capabilities shape which policy options are available and how quickly a government can act.

What does the bureaucratic-politics perspective explain?

It highlights bargaining among officials and agencies with different responsibilities, information, and priorities; the resulting policy may be a compromise.

How can leaders influence foreign-policy decisions?

Leaders can set priorities, choose advisers, approve or reject proposals, and signal willingness to compromise or take risks.

What can constrain a leader's foreign-policy choices?

Leaders depend on advisers for information, agencies to implement decisions, and often other political institutions for authority or resources.

Which domestic forces can shape foreign policy?

Legislatures, parties, elections, public opinion, businesses, labor groups, advocacy organizations, and the media can affect which choices leaders can sustain.

What is the central idea of two-level games?

It describes how leaders negotiate internationally while also seeking an agreement that can gain sufficient support at home.

What is a win-set?

A win-set is the set of international deals acceptable to a country's domestic political actors.

How can a narrow win-set affect a negotiator?

A narrow win-set limits a negotiator's flexibility, though a leader may use domestic constraints to explain why a proposal cannot be accepted.