1 Foreign Policy – A Working Definition Foreign policy is concerned with the official conduct of states exercising their sovereign authority in the international arena and acting in pursuit of their national interests.

2 Understanding Foreign Policy As a product statements and actions As a process agenda setting prioritizing decision-making implementation feedback As relationships bilateral multilateral

3 Some Myths and Misconceptions Sovereignty is absolute The state is a unitary actor Foreign policy “stops at the water’s edge” “Rationality” rules The universe of choices is boundless Power is fungible Consistency is paramount

4 Ideas, Images and Belief Systems Recurring tension Wilsonian Idealism Realism Beyond “pigeon-holing” Competing impulses – between and within institutions across political party lines Variation across policy spectrum Pendulum swings over time

5 Interactive Policy Environments DomesticInternational

6 National Power Foreign Policy Tools

7 Promoting National Security

8 Policy Dilemmas and Contradictions strategic allies old/new are not always democrats changing perceptions without changing policies might not be possible unilateral action in one area might compromise ability to secure vital support in another