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Determinants of Foreign Policy

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7th Dec, 2020

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Each nation has the right and power to secure the goals of her national interest in international relations. It is her supreme duty to
satisfy the needs of her people. Each nation wants to be self-reliant in all areas of activity. However, in reality no nation can achieve
cent per cent self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

Nations have always been interdependent and these are bound to remain so even after attaining high levels of development.
“Interdependence has been an incontrovertible fact of international relations.” It compels every nation to get essentially involved in the
process of establishing and conducting relations with other nations. Each nation establishes diplomatic, economic, trade, educational,
cultural and political relations with other nations.

What is Foreign Policy?

Foreign Policy can be defined as a set of principles, decisions and means, adopted and followed by a nation for securing her goals of
national interest in international relations. Foreign Policy defines the goals of national interest and then tries to secure these through
the exercise of national power.

  George Modelski defined foreign policy as “Foreign Policy is the system of activities evolved by communities for changing the
behaviour of other states and for adjusting their own activities to the international environment.”

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In simple words, it can be observed that Foreign Policy is a set of principles and decisions, a plan of action and a thought out course of
action adopted and used by
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a nation for conducting relations with other nations and all international actors with a view to secure the
preferred and defined goals of her national interest.

The Foreign Policy Contains

A set of principles, policies and decisions adopted and followed by the nation in international relations.
Objectives, goals or aims of national interest which are to be secured.
Means to be used for achieving the goals of national interest.
Broad policy principles and decisions for conducting international relations.
Assessment of the gains and failures of the nation in respect of its goals of national interest.
Policies, decisions and action-programmes for maintaining continuity or change or both in international relations.

Common objective of foreign policy

Protecting national prestige and developing national power, and
Maintaining the integrity of state
Promoting common interest
Providing for national security
Maintaining world order.

Determinants of Foreign Policy:

The foreign policy of a nation is formulated and implemented by its policy makers. In doing so they take into account the national
interest of the nation, the internal and external environment, the national values, the foreign policy goals and decisions of other
nations and the nature of international power structure.

1. Size of State Territory:

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
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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

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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.

Israel, despite being a small sized state has been influencing the course of politics among nations. Before 1945, Britain, with a
small size, could play the role of a world power. Large size poses the problem of defense, security and maintenance of
communications. In the absence of natural boundaries, the large size of a nation very often creates the problem of relations with
neighboring states. Despite being the large sized states, Australian and Canadian foreign policies have not been very active.
Russia is a large sized state but its role in contemporary international relations continues to be weak.

2. Geographical Factor:
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 role played by English
Channel in the development of Britain as a major naval power and consequently as an imperial power is well known. The
influence of the Atlantic Ocean on the US Foreign Policy has been always there. Indian Foreign Policy now definitely bears the
influence of the geographical location of India as the largest littoral state of the Indian Ocean.

The natural resources and the food production capacity of a nation is directly linked with its geography. These factors are also
important factors in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy. Adequate existence of vital natural resources
minerals, food and energy resources have been helping factors of the US and Russian foreign policies.

Food shortage was a source of limitation on Indian Foreign Policy in the 1950s & 1960s. Consumer goods shortage have been
hitting hard the foreign policy and relations of Russia. Large quantities of oil have made it possible for the West Asian and Gulf
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nations to adopt oil diplomacy as a means of their foreign policies.
 Geography, as such is an important and permanent factor of foreign policy, yet it is not a deterministic factor. The revolutionary

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developments in communications and modern warfare, and the ability of nations to overcome geographical hindrances have
tended to reduce the importance of geography.

3. Level and Nature of Economic Development:

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 of economic development also determines the scope of relations that a nation wishes to establish with other nations.
The Foreign Policy of Japan in the contemporary times is directly and fundamentally related to its economic development. The
military preparedness and military capability of a nation is again directly related to the factor of economic development and
industrialization. Only industrially and economically developed nations can hope to become major and stable military powers.

Economic power constitutes a fundamental dimension of national power in contemporary times and at present; it can be used
more effectively for securing foreign policy goals. The US economic power has been a major instrument of its foreign policy.
Economic weakness of Russia has forced it to change its policy towards the U.S.A. and other countries. Steadily developing India
economy has definitely given a boost to India’s foreign relations. Thus, 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.

4. Cultural and Historical Factors:

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
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most of the Asian and African states has been largely due to the presence of internal dissensions and conflicts among their
peoples.
 Bitter experiences with the policies of imperialism and colonialism have been a determining factor of the anti-imperialist and
anti-colonial contents
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of the foreign policies of most of the new sovereign states. History is an important factor in determining
the relations among the neighboring nations. Foreign policy interactions between India and Pakistan are mostly the legacies of
past history. The shadow of the history of 1962 still influences the course of Sino- Indian relations.

However, cultural values and links are always subject to perpetual changes and adjustments. Historical experiences too are
forgotten in the face of national interest. The existence of conflict among the European nations, despite their cultural links and
the development, and continuance of strong USJapanese friendship and relations bear ample proof that cultural and historical
factors have to have combination with other factors before influencing the course of Foreign Policy.

India’s strategic culture has been shaped by its history, philosophy and traditions. Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-
violence, moral behaviour and Satyagraha was rooted in India’s moral, ethical and philosophical traditions such as the Vedas, the
Ramayana, Mahabharata as well as the teachings of Lord Buddha. Gandhiji’s own experiences in South Africa contributed to his
understanding that India’s freedom was linked to that of other Asian and African colonies. In turn, Gandhiji’s thinking influenced
Jawaharlal Nehru. Therefore, it is not surprising that the defining characteristics of India’s foreign policy in the first few decades
after Independence were non-alignment, anti-colonialism, anti-racialism, non-violence, disarmament, and peacemaking.

5. Social Structure:
The structure and nature of the society for which the foreign policy operates is also an important element. The nature of social
groups and the degree of conflict and harmony that characterize their mutual relations are determined by the social structure. A
society characterized by strong internal conflict and strife acts as a source of weakness for the foreign policy.

A society of united, enlightened and disciplined people with a high degree of group harmony is always a source of strength. The
democratization of the process of policy-making in recent times has increased the importance of social structure as an element of
foreign policy. The linkages between the domestic and international environments have tended to strengthen the role of this
element.

6. Government Structure:
The organisation and structure of government i.e. the organisational agencies which handle the foreign policy-making and
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implementation is another important element of foreign policy. The shape of the foreign policy is also determined by the fact as
to whether the government agencies handling it are democratically constituted or not.
 Whether the authority relations are centralized or decision-making is free and open. The government officials also act as decision

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makers and this factor always influences the formulation of foreign policy. Foreign policy of a nation has to adapt to the
environment. In a centralized and authoritarian system, the foreign policy can remain and often remains isolated from the
domestic environment.

The nature of legislature-executive relations is also an influential factor in Foreign Policy decision-making. The harmony between
the two, as is there in a parliamentary system, can be a source of strength and lack of harmony between the two can be a source of
hindrance for the foreign policy makers. Similarly, the nature of party system, elections and electorate are other influential
factors. The continuity in Indian Foreign Policy has been also due to the nature of government-making in India.

7. Internal Situation:
Like the external situational factors, sudden changes, disturbances or disorders that occur within the internal environment of a
nation also influence the nature and course of foreign policy. The resignation of President Nixon over the issue of Watergate
Scandal considerably limited the foreign policy of USA under President Ford.

The internal opposition to the military regime in Pakistan during 1947-89 was a determinant of Pakistani foreign policy.
Similarly, the declaration of emergency in India in 1975 did materially affect the relations of India with other countries
particularly the super powers. A change of government is always a source of change in the foreign policy of a state.

The rise of new leadership in China is now an important input of Chinese Foreign Policy. The rise of BJP led Government in India
from 2014 acted as a source of some changes in relations with India’s neighbors. The internal situation of Pakistan, a military
dominated state trying to be a democratic political system has always been a factor of Pakistan’s Foreign Policy.

8. Values, Talents, Experiences and Personalities of Leaders:

Since the Foreign Policy of a nation is made and implemented by leaders, statesmen and diplomats, naturally it bears an imprint
of their values, talents, experiences and personalities. The ideas, orientations, likings, disliking, attitudes, knowledge, skill and
the world-view of the national decision-makers are influential inputs of Foreign Policy. The differences among the leaders are
also influential inputs of a foreign policy.

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 The Indian Foreign Policy till 1964 was often, and rightly so, described as Nehru’s Foreign Policy. The support at home and the

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popularity that PM Nehru enjoyed acted as imputes of 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. The rise of strong leaders like Narendra Modi and Donald Trump has shaped the foreign policy of their nations in recent
past.

However, this does not mean that this factor is an independent determinant of Foreign Policy. Leaders are always guided by the
dictates and demands of national interest. Each leader is committed to the securing of national interests of the nation.

9. Political Accountability:
In the words of Rosenau, “the degree to which public officials are accountable to the citizenry, either through elections, party
competitions, legislative oversight, or other means, can have important consequences for the timing and contents of the plans
that are made and the activates undertaken in foreign affairs.”

A political system which is both responsive to and responsible before the people, works in a different environment than the
political system which is a closed system i.e., a system which is neither open nor accountable to the people. As such foreign policy
of an open political system is more responsive to public opinion and public demands than the foreign policy of a closed political
system. The difference between the foreign policies of democratic and totalitarian/authoritarian states is always largely due to his
factor.

10. Ideology:
Foreign Policy is a set of principles and a strategic plan of action adopted by a nation to fulfill the goals of national interest. It has
always an ideological content. For securing support for its goal as well as for criticizing the foreign policy goals of other nations, it
needs and adopts an ideology or some ideological principles.

The ideology of communism remained an important factor of the foreign policies of communist nations during 1945-90. Anti-
Communism and Pro-Liberal Democracy ideologies have always influenced the shape and course of foreign policies of non-
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communist Western nations. Ideological conflict remained determining factor in the cold war policies (1945-90) of both the
super powers.
 The drive in favor of democratization, decentralization and liberalization in the socialist states of Europe, the new states of

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Central Asia, Russia and Mongolia has given a new direction to international relations of post-1990 period. Similarly, ideological
commitments have been a source of affinity in the foreign policies of Islamic nations.

11. Public Opinion:

Public Opinion, national as well as international is another important input of Foreign Policy. Decision-makers of each nation
have to accept and give due place to the opinion of the people they represent as well as to the World Public Opinion.
Undoubtedly, the decision-makers as leaders have to lead the public yet they also have to accommodate the demands of public
opinion.

The American Senate’s refusal to ratify the American membership of the League of Nations, and the opposition of Vietnam War
by the Americans and other peoples, had a big impact on the Foreign Policy of the U.S.A.

The real strength behind the objectives of Disarmament, Arms Control and Nuclear Disarmament, Anti- colonialism, Anti-
apartheid policies of various nations, has been the World Public Opinion. The rise of several peace and development movements
in the World has decidedly acted as a check against foreign policies of war, aggression and destruction. No one is now prepared to
talk and act as Hitler and Mussolini did in 1930s.

Hence, as the international world order undergoes significant changes, world and India’s foreign policy continues to evolve. The
other factors like technology, International power structure, alliances and international treaties and world organizations also play
pivotal role in shaping the foreign policy of a country. All the determinants of foreign policy are inter-related and interdependent.
They act together or in combination for influencing the making and implementation of a foreign policy. None of these factors can
work in isolation and independently. All these determinants have to be analyzed together for understanding the nature and
objective of Foreign Policy of each nation.

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