Foreign policy
Contents
Foreign policy and diplomacyForeign policy refers to a government’s strategy in dealing with other nations and international actors to safeguard its national interests, promote its values, and achieve diplomatic goals. It is a crucial aspect of diplomacy and international relations, shaping a country’s interactions on the global stage. Foreign policy decisions can encompass a wide range of areas, including:
Diplomatic relations: Establishing and maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries through embassies, consulates, and international organizations.
Trade and economic relations: Negotiating trade agreements, promoting exports, attracting foreign investment, and addressing economic issues with other nations.
Security and defense: Formulating policies related to national security, military alliances, arms control, and peacekeeping operations.
Development and humanitarian assistance: Providing aid, development assistance, and humanitarian support to countries in need, often in collaboration with international organizations.
Environmental and global issues: Addressing global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism, and human rights violations through international cooperation and multilateral agreements.
Foreign policy is influenced by a country’s historical background, cultural values, economic interests, security concerns, and political ideology. It involves a complex interplay of diplomacy, negotiation, and strategic decision-making to advance a nation’s interests and values in the international arena.
Updates
What are the similarities and differences between diplomacy and foreign policy?
Diplomacy and foreign policy often overlap in their usage and application. Henry Kissinger used the term ‘diplomacy’ interchangeably with ‘foreign policy’ and ‘international relations’, while Hans Morgenthau describes diplomacy as the creation and enactment of foreign policy. This seemingly covers all aspects of foreign policy under the umbrella of diplomacy.
However, a more nuanced understanding differentiates foreign policy – the formulation of international objectives – from diplomacy, the means through which these objectives are achieved. Jacques Chazelle underscores this distinction, stating, ‘Diplomacy is the set of methods and activities a State employs in service of its foreign policy’.
But is it too limiting to frame diplomacy as simply the execution arm of foreign policy? Peter Marshall argues that the dichotomy is an oversimplification and that diplomacy tactics can significantly shape foreign policy goals. José Calvet de Magalhães echoes this, warning against a definition that reduces diplomacy to the single, albeit crucial, task of foreign policy implementation.
From our blog
New Germany’s digital foreign policy strategy: Between continuity and change
13 February 2024
Digital is a strategic priority for Germany. It is the key message of Germany's Strategy for International Digital Foreign Policy, released on February 7, 2024. Germany has joined Denmark, Switzerland, Australia, and ...
A new era of Chinese foreign policy
03 March 2022
As China is getting close to meeting all the measures of what defines a global great power (political, economic, and military might with a global reach), Beijing’s new foreign policy has raised questions about the e...
10 lessons from 10 years of teaching digital diplomacy at the College of Europe
12 November 2021
Digital diplomacy, Digital foreign policy, EU diplomacy, Pedagogy
In 2011, I taught my first course on digital diplomacy at the College of Europe. Since then – except for 2020 due to pandemic lockdowns –I’ve spent two days in Bruges every fall to introduce and discuss three as...
How to break down silos across defence, diplomacy and development?
14 September 2021
Breaking down silos between 3D (defence, diplomacy and development) is in a focus of many countries. The United States has been reinvigorated by Biden's administration and his appointment of Samantha Power as USAID a...
Training and courses
Events
United Arab Emirates Diplomatic Academy: Training on Artificial Intelligence
18 Nov 24 - 20 Nov 24
Just-in-time capacity building for Rwandan Diplomacy
03 Oct 22 - 14 Oct 22
Resources
German Strategy for International Digital Policy
The German government's Strategy for International Digital Policy outlines their commitment to safeguarding democracy and freedom online, promoting human rights, advocating for a global, open, free, and secure internet, enhancing technology partnerships, supporting cro... Read more...
2023
Tech diplomacy practice in the San Francisco Bay Area
A fresh look five years after the first mapping in 2018, this report examines how countries engage in tech diplomacy in the San Francisco Bay Area. The report maps a selection of diplomatic representations to illustrate the variety of approaches engaged and identifies ... Read more...
2021
2021: The emergence of digital foreign policy
While digital tools, in particular social media, have been gradually introduced to the practice of diplomacy, many open questions remain regarding the impact of digitisation on foreign policy and the environment in which diplomacy is practised. This is where digital fo... Read more...
2018
Digital Diplomacy as a foreign policy statecraft to achieving regional cooperation and integration in the Polynesian Leaders Group
Established in 2011, the Polynesian Leaders Groups serves to fulfill a vision of cooperation, strengthening integration on issues pertinent to the region and to the future of the PLG. Its nine – American Samoa, French Polynesia, Niue, Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, T... Read more...
2018
European Union external action structure: Beyond state and intergovernmental organisations diplomacy
This dissertation analyses the organisation of the external action structures of the European Union. As an international actor which is beyond a state, but also different to traditional international organisations, the EU has created a “diplomatic constellation” ... Read more...
2018
A clash of grand strategies between Russia, United States of America and Turkey for greater power and influence in the Middle East
The thesis explores the changing dynamics in the Middle East where the region is witnessing a metamorphosis in its power structure as major regional powers actively pursue their grand strategies to unseat U.S. hegemony. The analysis focuses in particular on the foreign... Read more...
2017
Room For Diplomacy: Britain’s Diplomatic Buildings Overseas 1800-2000
Mark Bertram joined the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works after reading architecture at Cambridge and remained in the civil service as architect, project manager, administrator, estate manager and – in his own words – ‘quasi diplomat’ for the next thirty y... Read more...
2017
Will Shashi Tharoor’s Recommendations Reform the MEA for the Better?
The text is about Shashi Tharoor's proposed reforms for India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the impact it could have.... Read more...
