Foreign policy refers to the strategies used by governments to guide their actions internationally and achieve certain goals. It spells out objectives and tactics. The key goals of foreign policy include security, autonomy, welfare, and status. Security involves choices around isolation, alliances, and contracting out. Autonomy means withstanding outside influence. Welfare relates to trade strategies like free trade and economic coalitions. Status concerns a country's prestige internationally. Other goals can include protecting ethnic or religious groups abroad or visions of reshaping the global order.

1. Foreign Policy
Definition. Goals.

2. Foreign Policy
• What is FP?
1. Strategies used by governments to guide
actions in the international arena.
2. Spells out goals and objectives.
3. Spells out tactics.
4. A steering process adjusted according to
feedback from the outside world.

3. Foreign Policy
• Primary variables to consider:
1. The individuals making the decisions.
2. Type of society and government within which
they work—size, wealth, degree of participation
in government, relative populations, natural
resources, levels of technology, political culture,
history.
3. International context within which they
operate.

4. Goals of Foreign Policy
A. Common Goals
1. Security
– Policy choices:
• Isolation
• Self-reliance
• Neutrality and Nonalignment
• Alliance
• Contracting out

5. Goals of Foreign Policy
2. Autonomy
• The capacity to withstand influence, coercion, or
rule by others.
3. Welfare
• Trade strategies:
1. Autarky
2. Mercantilism
3. Free trade
4. Economic coalitions
5. Cartels
6. Regional free trade agreements

6. Goals of Foreign Policy
4. Status and prestige
B. Other Goals
1. Protection of ethnic, ideological or religious
colleagues.
2. Dreams of world reorganization.