Foreign Policy

The sum of official policies of a state monitoring its interaction across the state boundaries (political,
diplomatic, military, economic, cultural etc.) is generally termed as a state’s foreign policy.

General objectives that guide the activities and relationships of one state in its interactions with other
states

“Foreign Policy is the use of political influence in order to induce other states to exercise their law-
making power in a manner desired by the states concerned: it is an interaction between forces
originating outside the country’s borders and those working within them”. (Prof. F. S. Northedge)

Making of Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy decision making involves a number of stages/steps and various actors/players. Broadly
speaking, it includes the following steps:

• Analysis and assessment of the international and domestic political environment

• Goal setting
• Determination of policy options
• Formal decision making action

Foreign Policy Objectives

• Short range Objectives

• Middle range Objectives
• Long range Objectives

Determinants of Foreign Policy

Determinants of foreign policy may vary from state to state, from time to time and even may vary for the
same state at different times. However, there are some major determinants that might be considered
equally important for all the states and for all the times. These may be divided into two major categories.

1. External determinants/factors
2. Internal or domestic determinants/factors

1. External Determinants/Factors

Power structure (International system/world order, regional and international order)

• The power structure of the world politics greatly influences the foreign policy of a state. A state
may have different policy options in different system, e.g., foreign policy may be different when
there are two competing super powers or the system is bipolar. Similarly, foreign policy may
 change if there is only one super power (unipolar system) or there are several powerful states
(multipolar system). Pakistan’s foreign policy was different in bipolar system during cold war and
it had to change with the changing world order from bipolar to unipolar in post-cold war era and
then to multipolar system in post-9/11 era.
• The power configuration within a region also impacts the foreign policies of the states.

International Organizations

• International organizations along with international treaties. Agreements, conventions and

international law may also effect the foreign policies of states. States are generally bound to
make policies in such a way that may not be in clash with or violation of the organizations
they have joined or treaties/agreements/conventions they have signed. They usually avoid
to make foreign policies that may openly violate international laws.
• For example, Pakistan, being a member of U.N. would prefer not to make such policies that
may directly violate the charter of U.N.

Reaction of other states

• While taking a certain foreign policy decision, a state may have to consider what could
be the response or reaction of other states at that decision or policy. For Example,
Pakistan has to consider the reaction of Iran and other states in Middle East before
sending it’s troops to help Saudi Arabia on the issue of Yemen.

World Public Opinion

• International public opinion may also influence the foreign policy of a state. Sometimes
international pressure may cause a state to change it’s foreign policy to a larger extent.
For example, Pakistan always supported Taliban government in Afghanistan but after
9/11 when international public opinion turned against them, Pakistan hanged its foreign
policy towards Taliban and decided to join America/NATO against Taliban government in
Afghanistan.

Alliances

• If a state has joined any alliance, that may effect it’s foreign policy. It has to consider the
policies and interests of allies while making it’s own foreign policy. It sometimes may
contradict it’s own interest or ideology even. For Example, during Suez Crisis 1956, when
Egypt declared to nationalize Suez Canal and had a conflict with U.K. and France,
Pakistan could not support despite being a Muslim state because Pakistan had joined
Western Alliance with U.S. and France and U.K. were the members of that alliance as
well.

2. Internal Determinants/Factors

Internal factors also play important role in formulation of foreign policy of a state. Some of these are:

Personal Factors
• These are concerned with the perceptions, images, intellect, vision, personal religious
beliefs or ideology of individual leaders involved in foreign policy making and have a
great impact in this regard. For Example, Nawaz Sharif has personal relations with Saudi
kings/monarchs and he also shares the same religious beliefs (being Sunni), so in his
government, Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Bhuto’s
having a tilt towards Sheaism and Mrs. Nusrat Bhuto having Irani origin, Pakistan used to
be close to Iran during governments of Zulfiqar Ali Bhuto and Benezir Bhutto.

Behavioral Factors

• The behavior of the office holders such as President, Prime Minister, Ministers, high level
bureaucrats, military personals may affect the foreign policy as well. Nawaz Sharif may
promise Saudi Arabia to send troops in his personal capacity and due to his personal
relations, but being Prime Minister of Pakistan he has to consider the suggestions of
other leaders, opposition or public opinion in this regard.

Structural Factors

• It is concerned with the structure and process of government and their effects on
foreign policy.
• Type of government, role of political parties and military establishment also have
impacts on foreign policy.
• The foreign policy making process and decisions may be different in democracy and
dictatorship. For example, Musharraf being a dictator decided on single-handedly to join
War on Terror after 9/11. On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif, being a democratic PM and
in the presence of active and strong opposition could not send troops to Saudi Arabia
despite his personal relations.

National Factors

• The national factors include the following factors concerning a state :

• Geographic location/size of the state
• Military strength
• Population/manpower/fabric of society
• Culture/history/ideology
• Economic system
• Technological advancement
• Role of Media & Think-tanks
• Public Opinion
• Ideology