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The Theoretical Significance of Foreign Policy in International Relations- an Analyses Journal of Critical Reviews ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7, Issue 2, 2020 Review Article THE THEORETICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREIGN POLICY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS- AN ANALYSES Jesmine Ahmed* *PhD Scholar, Department of Political Science, Assam University, Email Id-jesmine, [email protected]. Received: 09.11.2019 Revised: 05.12.2019 Accepted: 04.01.2020 Abstract: Foreign policy of a country is formulated to safeguard and promote its national interests in the conduct of relations with other countries, bilaterally and multilaterally. It is a direct reflection of a country’s traditional values and overall national policies, her aspirations and self-perception. Thus, Foreign Policies are the strategies, methods, guidelines, agreements that usually national governments use to perform their actions in the international arena. In contemporary times, every state establishes diplomatic, economic, trade, educational, cultural and political relations with other nations and that compels to maintain its relation with each other as well as with international organizations and non-governmental actors in the international relations. Thus, International Relations attempts to explain the behaviours that occur across the boundaries of states and institutions such as private, state, governmental, non-governmental and inter- governmental oversee those interactions. However, this paper try to articulate the theoretical importance of foreign policy in international relations and how it helps in maintaining relations among the countries at the international level. Key Words: Foreign Policy, International Relations, State, Bilateral, Multilateral © 2019 by Advance Scientific Research. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.02.144 INTRODUCTION: Moreover, Foreign policy involves both decisions and actions i.e., In international arena, every nation has always been policies. This decisions and actions comprise to some interdependent. Even after attaining highest level of considerable level relations between one state and others. development every nation has to make some dependency on Foreign policy is basically a matter of saying what a state is going other nations to fulfill their own interests. No nation can remain to do. Through it, every state decides what course it will pursue isolated. Thus, the framing of foreign policy is a necessary in world affairs within the limits of its strength and the realities activity of the modern state. It arises from the circumstances; as of the external environment. Foreign policy, therefore, confers a Lenin made remarked that a state is not an isolated island but a sense of direction to a state. It provides adequate instruments for member of a society of states, participation in which is the convenient journey towards this direction. It creates a sense inescapable. Thus, in contemporary times, every state of purpose as well as a confidence to achieve that purpose. In establishes diplomatic, economic, trade, educational, cultural and that context, it acts as an indispensable equipment of every state political relations with other nations and that compels to in world affairs. maintain its relation with each other as well as with international organizations and non-governmental actors in the international For giving meaning and direction in the international arena each relations. Thus, International Relations attempts to explain the nation formulates a foreign policy. Thus, Normal Hill viewed that behaviours that occur across the boundaries of states and “Foreign Policy is the substance of nation’s efforts to promote its institutions such as private, state, governmental, non- interest’s vis-à-vis other nations”. The main objective of foreign governmental and inter-governmental oversee those policy is achieving own interest and upholding national ideology. interactions. Hoffmann defined that “The discipline of All nations are influenced (either favorable or adverse effect) by International Relations is concerned with the factors and the activities of other nations and try to make some adjustment activities which affect the external policies and the power of the to fulfill one’s own interest. It has to take into account not only its basic units into which the world is divided.” own objectives, aspirations and problems butalso those of other states.C.C Rodee,”Foreign Policy involves the formulation and The sovereign states conduct their foreign relations and interact implementation of a group of principles which shape the with each other through their foreign policies and thus,foreign behaviour pattern of a state while negotiating with (contacting ) policies in international politics are like a charter containing other states to protect or further its vital interest.” national interests showing the areas of agreement and disagreement. It explains the ideas with which the state would Moreover, national interests are the objectives of sovereign exert its influence in a very effective way. Foreign policy of a states which they pursue with the help of power and through the country is formulated to safeguard and promote its national instrument of foreign policy. In this sense, Hartmann viewed interests in the conduct of relations with other countries, that” International Relations as a field of study is focused upon bilaterally and multilaterally. It is a direct reflection of a the processes by which states adjust their national interests to country’s traditional values and overall national policies, her those of other states.” Thus, it is the adjustment of actions of aspirations and self-perception. states in favour of one’s own state which George Modelski called “the purpose of foreign policy”. In this sense, George Modelski defines Foreign Policy as “the system of activities evolved by Journal of critical reviews 787 THE THEORETICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREIGN POLICY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS- AN ANALYSES communities for changing the behavior of other states and for long range objectives(plans,visions concerning ultimate political adjusting their own activities to the international or ideological organization of the international system). environment.”Thus, Modelski believes that it is only a desirable change in the behaviour of other states which is the end of Short range objectives are also called the core objectives, i.e., foreign policy and with which foreign policy analysis has to deal. core values and interest, territorialintegrity as well as political But some scholars of International Relations viewed that the aim independence.A country has to deal with all the sources that pose of foreign policy should be not only to change but also to threat to the geographical integrity of it. However, political regulate the behaviour of other states in a desirable manner.For independence means the state is able to play its prestigious role example,India has received the support of the Soviet Union for in the international field at its own will. These are the matters many years on Kashmir,whereas the United Kingdom has been related to the basic existence of a nation and every state seeks to diplomatically withholding such a support. The interest of India safeguard it without any compromise. needs a favourable change in the British attitude and a continuation of the Soviet attitude.Thus foreign policy is However, middle range objectives are related to trade, foreign concerned with both change and status quo in so far as they aid as well as economic progress of people along with raising serve the national interest. their life standards. Foreign Policy aims at achieving economic prosperity so as to play more assertive role in international However, Feliks Gross goes a step further than Modelski’s politics. Status and prestige of a state can be secured only if the definition by stating that even a decision to have no relations state is economically stable. Moreover, territorial and ideological with a state is also a foreign policy or, in other words, not to have expansion through the propagation of ideas, ideologies, systems, a definite foreign policy is also a foreign policy. cultures and values are also fall under middle range objectives. Foreign policy of a nation changes according to the needs of time. Long range objectives are plans, visions concerning ultimate Thus, continuity in foreign policy is not a matter of choice but a political or ideological organization of the international system. necessity. Morgenthau viewed that all foreign policies tend to These objectives are indefinite and vague as there is no confirm to and reflect the patterns of activity: maintain the prediction about the outcome of the pursuit. balance of power, imperialism and politics of prestige. However, Foreign Policy objectives can be classified into various Thus, Foreign Policies are the strategies, methods, guidelines, pairs of different objectives.Arnold Wollfers has differentiated agreements that usually national governments use to perform between Possession goals and Milieu goals.Possession goals are their actions in the international arena .In this regard, Padelford those goals that a foreign policy seeks to achieve in order to and Lincolin viewed that “Foreign Policy is the key element in the preserve its possessions such as an extension of territory or a process by which a state translate its broadly conceived goals membership of some world organization; and Milieu goals and interest into concrete course of action to attain these focuses on those goals
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