The Yegiora Files

There are 3 common models of foreign policy decision making according to Graham Allison: rational actor model organizational process mode government politics model.  We will discuss the 3 models and compare them with the 3 levels of analysis. However, I challenge you to use your own initiative to learn about the other models of decision making. This will help you as future decision makers or analysts to understand how decisions are made and the processes. When one wakes up from bed he or she decides whether or not to brush their teeth, comb their hair and have a shower. These decisions are paramount, they affect and influence how the individual interacts in a social setting. This highlights the fact that as human beings we make decisions every day. Decision making is defined as the thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options. In the case of the ‘Kibung peles boy’ analogy; the male student had a choice of approaching the girl to ask he...

Script for the podcast on Moodle In this podcast, I will outline the 3 features that connects Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) to International Relations (IR). My analysis is limited in the sense that I will focus only on a handful of sources to help me make the connection. As such, I encourage you all to read widely to further develop your understanding of the connection between FPA and IR. Categorization We begin with the first feature, categorization. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, IR is a subfield of political science. Political science is “the systematic study of governance by the application of empirical and generally scientific methods of analysis. As traditionally defined and studied, political science examines the state and its organs and institutions.” In addition, Encyclopedia Britannica explains that: “International relations considers the political relationships and interactions between countries, including the causes of war, the formation of foreign po...

This model is also known governmental politics model or bureaucratic politics model. It is another model used to make foreign policy decisions when faced with a situation. Wikipedia defines it as: "In this model the state is not seen as a monolithic unitary actor. Instead it is a collection of different bureaucracies vying for an increase in their funding and size. Individual decision makers try to bargain and compete for influence with their own particular goal in mind. Things are often viewed as a zero sum game where one bureaucracy’s ‘win’ or increasing their level of funding is seen as a ‘loss’ for another bureaucracy. Here decisions are made by bureaucracies competing against each other and suggesting solutions to problems that would involve using their resources so as to increase their level of importance. Bureaucratic politics model, in keeping with its pluralistic connotation, can also refer to that inner state processes including no institutional actors, who with...

I must admit that there are many different definitions I am yet to review. However, based on the ones that I have read, I have put together this framework for analysis.  The framework: Natural resources - impact of the competition for natural resources on the political behaviour of state or non-state actors. Geographical location - impact the geographical location of a state actor has on the political behaviour of another state or non-state actors. Size - impact of a state actor on the political behaviour of another state or non-state actor in regards to its physical land area. Size of a non-state actor and its impact on the political behaviour of a state and other non-state actors. Topography - impact of either man-made and the natural surface feature of land on the political behaviour of state and non-state actors. Demography - impact of the characteristics of human population on the political behaviour of state and non-state actors. Climate - impact of the climate on...

The recent geopolitical power play in the region is exciting. One fact that we cannot dispute is the growth of China. The Middle Kingdom has really change the rules of the game in the Asia-Pacific region. One notable development is the fact that PNG is now the first Pacific Island nation to join China's One Belt One Road Initiative formally. The Prime Minister went to China with a mission to sign the deal and came back a victor.    One Belt One Road As mentioned in the Business Insider: ""Belt and Road" is a massive trade and infrastructure project that aims to link China — physically and financially — to dozens of economies across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. It consists of two parts: The "Belt," which recreates an old Silk Road land route, and the "Road," which is not actually a road, but a route through various oceans." Cai from Lowy Institute explains that: "China’s Belt and Road Initiative (also kno...

Is it vital to learn about the various theoretical hallmarks of foreign policy analysis? Why? Yes, I believe it is vital. Why? Learning or talking about the hallmarks of foreign policy analysis according to Valarie Hudson helps us to understand the nature of the sub-field. For example, we now know that there are many factors, which influence a decision maker at the individual level. An event at home can influence the type of decision a decision maker makes. The decision made during that day influenced by factors at home could affect others at the state or international level. Learning or talking about the hallmarks of foreign policy analysis according to Valarie Hudson helps us to determine the difficulty of studying the sub-field. For example, decisions made by decision makers and influenced by factors at the individual or system level is difficult to study or understand. In most cases, we have no information about the personality of the leader or their backgr...

The comment below made by a particular student of mine some years ago in his or her unit evaluation is featured in the student evaluation segment of my unit learning guides for all the units I teach. Check my learning guides to differentiate unconstructive from constructive comments. “I recommend that wev have more international relations lecturer in order for we the students to have a broader understanding of IR.” Firstly, I find it disturbing that we graduated someone with very poor English. He or she could not spell the word 'we' and forgot to put the letter 'S' at the end of the word 'lecturer'. I labelled the comment as unconstructive because this particular student has not suggested any thing constructive to help me improve the unit. He or she did not comment on my learning map or strategy. Also he or she did not say whether the learning outcomes where achieved after the implementation of my teaching and learning strategy. You do not need mo...

For the unit IR432 Geopolitics in Asia-Pacific, we will be looking at various issues in the region. The topics or themes given for the group presentation task is based on three countries in the region: PNG Australia China These 3 countries have dominated news headlines this year (2018). Both China and Australia are major development partners of PNG. PNG with its growing population and abundance of natural resources is slowly becoming a significant player in regional politics. This is evident in the post below by our foreign minister. But is PNG playing China against Australia or vise versa in order to gain more? This video below insinuates that PNG is doing just that, and the current government is cunningly playing the game. Apart from using the APEC agenda, the O'Neill/Abel government have employed another tactic to join China's 'One Belt One Road' initiative. Whether it is a carefully calculated strategy, or just an innocent move to help develop the cou...