Foreign policy
could be defined as a well documented programme of action with institutionally
designated officials who seek to manipulate the international environment in
order to achieve certain objectives. The
major goal of foreign policy framers is to agglomerate their country’s policy
thus linking them to those of other states within the international system.
Foreign policy formulation and execution is a very complex business seen as a
bundle of official papers or merely a series of pronunciations by high
officials. It is a states way of going about dealing with its external environments.
The formulation of foreign policy, if done correctly must be seen as the forming of out intentions as distinguished from our ends, regarding world external to our national jurisdiction (area of control). This means that the control of the international society must determine the success of our ends. The international actors especially the foreign affairs minister will have to reply immediately to the happenings in the international society. He must also be warned that any verbalization must be supported with actions. In foreign policy certain policies are usually banked for the possible future. The reason is that foreign policy comprises a lot of unpredictions. For the benefit of doubt, we could borrow fisher’s terminology which says that there is the play of the contingent and unpredictable references. This implies that there is the possibility of situations to erupt although not expected but the state concentrate their best strategy to stop.
The formulation of foreign policy, if done correctly must be seen as the forming of out intentions as distinguished from our ends, regarding world external to our national jurisdiction (area of control). This means that the control of the international society must determine the success of our ends. The international actors especially the foreign affairs minister will have to reply immediately to the happenings in the international society. He must also be warned that any verbalization must be supported with actions. In foreign policy certain policies are usually banked for the possible future. The reason is that foreign policy comprises a lot of unpredictions. For the benefit of doubt, we could borrow fisher’s terminology which says that there is the play of the contingent and unpredictable references. This implies that there is the possibility of situations to erupt although not expected but the state concentrate their best strategy to stop.
Foreign policy
needs sound and widely acceptable general principles. Really, principle seems
to acquire more importance than the dynamics in the international environment.
The frequency and constant resort to principles in the guidance of foreign
relations suggest that they perform important functions in foreign policy
formulation and execution. By design, each state formulates foreign policy that
reflects the states national interest mission to increase its values. Common to
the analysis of foreign policy is the assumption that foreign policy is the
preserve of governments but it not really correct. In contemporary
international system, many international organizations manifest either to
promote business or cultural values.
These organizations articulate politics which are intended to influence the international system. Organizations therefore powerful because it is the attribute of a sovereignty which a state confers to it. In other words no organization can pursue foreign policy goals without the express permission of both the domestic and the host governments. Government therefore are important agents of policy implementation in the international system. Among the multi-national organizations that is common in Africa are oil companies, Unilever, Julius Berger, Dumez, Strabag , G.B. Olivant, Levities Technical etc. Foreign policy must rest upon ‘apriori’ ideas of the aims and objectives. These goals are compounded into what is referred to as ‘national interest”, a clear concept. National interest in the sum total of values which a nation stand, pursues and projects its objective in its interactions with other nations in the international scenario for the well being of the state (country). With its help, the people can measure the quality of policies, while leaders use it as a base to mobilize its people use consist of national preservation, the independence of the state and sovereignty, economic well –being etc.
These organizations articulate politics which are intended to influence the international system. Organizations therefore powerful because it is the attribute of a sovereignty which a state confers to it. In other words no organization can pursue foreign policy goals without the express permission of both the domestic and the host governments. Government therefore are important agents of policy implementation in the international system. Among the multi-national organizations that is common in Africa are oil companies, Unilever, Julius Berger, Dumez, Strabag , G.B. Olivant, Levities Technical etc. Foreign policy must rest upon ‘apriori’ ideas of the aims and objectives. These goals are compounded into what is referred to as ‘national interest”, a clear concept. National interest in the sum total of values which a nation stand, pursues and projects its objective in its interactions with other nations in the international scenario for the well being of the state (country). With its help, the people can measure the quality of policies, while leaders use it as a base to mobilize its people use consist of national preservation, the independence of the state and sovereignty, economic well –being etc.
Now, having
understood what international relations means with its conceptual
clarifications, let’s highlight the approaches briefly. The approaches to international relations
include. The historical approach, the philosophical approach, the institutional
approach, the legal approach, the system frame work approach, the decision
–making approach, the games approach and the political economy approach. One main
challenge confronting students of political science and the sub-field of
international relations in writing their essays is that of methodology. An
appropriate use of methodology apart from confirming the science of the
discipline put the scholar above other free –thinkers in the analysis of
international events.
According to A.O Ikelegbe in ten approaches of international relations in his book titled “politics and government”. An introductory and comparative perspective (1995 pg 134-142), stated that the role of approaches /methodology is to position a particular event within different paradigm(s) which will make it clearer. These approaches ranges from the historical to the recent well acclaimed political economy of the radical school. While a particular approach may be more relevant in a particular study, it is important to point out that the approaches are complimentary because they benefit each other. There is no analysis of a particular international event that is devoid of history, the question of morality, the factor of legality and system balance. Notwithstanding, while most states actions may be premised on power expansion, they may also be politico-economic implications not only on the particular state but the international system at large.
According to A.O Ikelegbe in ten approaches of international relations in his book titled “politics and government”. An introductory and comparative perspective (1995 pg 134-142), stated that the role of approaches /methodology is to position a particular event within different paradigm(s) which will make it clearer. These approaches ranges from the historical to the recent well acclaimed political economy of the radical school. While a particular approach may be more relevant in a particular study, it is important to point out that the approaches are complimentary because they benefit each other. There is no analysis of a particular international event that is devoid of history, the question of morality, the factor of legality and system balance. Notwithstanding, while most states actions may be premised on power expansion, they may also be politico-economic implications not only on the particular state but the international system at large.