To be blunt about it, how could it not be?
Ultimately, the political process is designed for the development and
carrying out of policy. Conceptually, it makes no difference whether
the policies affect domestic matters or international ones.
Here are several explanations of how foreign policy is part of the
political process. I'll refer specifically to the United States,
although many of these details could apply to foreign countries as
well.
1. Foreign policy is largely the prerogative of the president, an
elected official. In order to govern effectively, the president needs
public support, and one way of gaining (or losing!) public support is
through decisions made in foreign policy.
2. Foreign policy is inevitably connected with domestic economic
issues such as those relating to trade, competitiveness and the
environment.
3. Foreign policy is carried out largely by the executive branch, and
the appointment of persons to decision-making decisions is inherently
a political process. In fact, many key posts are subject to Senate
ratification.
4. Although the executive is largely responsible for foreign policy,
the Congress has a key role in budgeting and the establishment of laws
that affect certain parts of foreign policy. The War Powers Act, for
example, has been one attempt by Congress to have greater influence
over foreign policy.
5. Politics is at least partly the process whereby the direction of
the country as it pertains to political philosophy is determined. In
the area of foreign policy, the two broad philosophical extremes are
isolationism (we should mind only what is clearly our own business)
and interventionism (we should exert our power and influence to our
benefit wherever we can). Through politics, the decision is made as
to how those two approaches are balanced.
6. There is also politics on the global scale. The efforts of
countries vying for influence over other countries is inevitably a
political process.
7. Evidence of the political nature of foreign policy can be seen in
the platforms of nearly all parties. Both major parties as well as the
minor ones seek to promote a foreign policy that will find electoral
support.
I hope this list is helpful. Here are some Internet resources that
also may be of help:
American Diplomacy
Numerous current articles relating to foreign policy and the political
process.
http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/
The Atlantic Online: Foreign Policy
Recent articles, many of them relating to how foreign policy is
shaped.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/foreign/foreign.htm
Foreign Policy Forum
Critical analyses of U.S. foreign policy.
http://www.foreignpolicyforum.com/
Best wishes,
mvguy-ga
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