The Yegiora Files

The individual level of analysis in foreign policy analysis (FPA) plays a crucial role in understanding decision-making processes and policy outcomes. Hudson outlines six hallmarks of FPA, one of which is the multilevel nature of factors that influence decision-making, categorized into individual, state, and system levels. At the individual level, Goldstein emphasizes the significance of individual human beings as the true actors in international relations. Great leaders, citizens, soldiers, and thinkers shape the course of history through their perceptions, choices, and actions. Understanding the personalities, beliefs, and values of decision-makers provides insights into their motivations and decision-making processes. Personality traits, political inclinations, and values can influence foreign policy decisions, and knowledge of these factors enhances our understanding of decision-makers' motivations. Perceptions also play a significant role in the individual level of analysi...

The formulation of foreign policy is a complex process influenced by various actors and factors at different levels of analysis. At the state level, the role of legislatures in shaping foreign policy outcomes varies across different countries and their systems of governance. This essay explores the significance of legislatures in foreign policy decision-making, with a focus on democratic countries. By examining the legal powers, traditions, the importance of unified voice, and the prioritization of domestic policy, we gain insight into the extent of legislative influence on foreign policy outcomes. In democratic countries, the authority to make and implement foreign policy is often vested in the executive branch, particularly the head of government and other political executives. This legal power derives from the country's constitution, granting the executive certain prerogatives in negotiating treaties, engaging in diplomacy, and extending diplomatic recognition. For instance,...

In an article published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs, Premdas presented a framework categorizing foreign policy options into three distinct categories. These categories offer valuable insights into the initial foreign policy approach of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The options available to a state are isolationism, non-alignment, and diplomatic coalitions and military alliances. Premdas asserts that states adopt a specific foreign policy strategy based on their belief that it serves their national interest, which can be categorized into security, economic, and ideological interests. Despite the option of pursuing isolationism upon independence, PNG chose a non-alignment foreign policy, aligning with the principles of universalism. This decision, common among newly independent countries, was influenced by various factors such as internal domestic considerations, external threats, geographical-contiguity factors, and the international system. It is worth considerin...