This document discusses the key determinants of a country's foreign policy. It identifies three main categories of determinants: general/objective factors, specific/internal factors, and external factors. General factors include sovereignty, interdependence between states, promoting national interests, and internal/external conditions. Specific factors are unique to each country and include geography, history, population, resources, economic situation, development level, and military capacity. External factors encompass international organizations, world public opinion, reactions from other states, and global political/economic conditions.

1. Determinants of
foreign policy
Presented by Ansha Shamas

2. Introduction
◦ It is a known fact that government formation is essential to run a state, and
no state can live without maintaining interstate relations, which have become
so essential these days. Every government has to formulate a foreign policy
like internal and domestic policies, industrial policy, agricultural policy,
defense policy, education policy, labor policy, etc.
◦ A state gives special attention to the careful formulation and successful
execution of its foreign policy. A successful foreign policy enhances a
nation’s power and prestige in the comity of nations. Foreign policy gains
also increase a government’s credibility in the eyes of the public internally
and externally.

3. Categories of Determinants
Several factors determine the foreign policy of states. These important determinants having a
bearing on foreign policy can be broadly classified into three categories:
General or objective.
Specific or subjective or internal.
External factors.

4. General and Objective
Determinants:
These are of four types that play a role in determining the foreign policy of all the states..
i. Sovereignty and Integrity of the Slate
ii. Inter-dependence of States:
iii. Promotion of National Interest:
iv. Internal and External Conditions:

5. General and objective determinants
1.Sovereignty and integrity of the
state
◦ The first factor that every state keeps in mind
while formulating foreign policy is
safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial
integrity. It is the state’s main responsibility to
safeguard the property of citizens and protect
their interests whatsoever they are.
◦ The policy of safeguarding the interests of the
citizens inside or outside the state is known as
prestige,
2.Interdependence of the state
◦ All the states, big or small, rich or poor, are
dependent on one another for one or the other
reasons.
◦ This inter-dependence may result in -conflict
or cooperation, so the states under these
stresses attempt to create a situation under
which international behavior may not be
broken completely.

6. General and objective determents
3. Promotion of national interest
◦ It is the primary duty of all states to promote
and further their national interests through
their foreign policies.
◦ There may be a difference between one state’s
interests with that of another state .
◦ Still, the interests as self-preservation,
security, and well-being of its citizens are the
common interests based on which foreign
policy is generally made.
4. Internal and External condition
◦ Certain internal and external factors condition
the foreign policy of every state.
◦ The degree of influence of these internal and
external factors on foreign policy may vary
from country to country. That is why they are
discussed in detail in subsequent headings.

7. Specific or Internal Determinants:
Every state has its own specific interests that require specific decisions in foreign
policymaking. A state may be facing certain problems and difficulties and, therefore, has to
consider several internal factors while formulating its foreign policy. These internal factors are
may differ from state to state. These particular or specific factors are under.
i. Geography
ii. History
iii. Population
iv. Natural resources
v. Economic factor
vi. Development
vii. National and Military capacity

8. Specific or Internal Determinants
1.Geogaphy
 A permanent and stable determinant of
foreign policy is geography.
 It determines the temperature,
resources, frontiers, and neighbors.
The state’s size, topography, shape,
location, and climate are important
components of geography.
 Location is one of the crucial elements
in molding the foreign policy outlook.
2. History
 Another guide to foreign policy is
the history of the country. From
history alone, the nation inherits a
style and culture, which in turn
influences foreign policymaking.
 History is the record of the doings
of a community, of its failures and
successes. The experience, failures,
and successes guide policymakers
to deal with present problems.
3. Population
 It is believed that the greater the
number of population, the greater
will be its power. Workforce
determines the standard of living,
values, way of life, and even a
nation’s expectations.
 The significance of China and
India rests partly on the large size
of their population

9. Specific or internal Determinants
4. Natural Resources
 Food, minerals, metal, coal, crude
oil, and water resources constitute
an important element of foreign
policy’s national power and
consequences.
 The availability of these resources
in plenty definitely enhances the
importance of a country.
 For example, petroleum has
significantly strengthened the West
Asian countries’ position in
international relations.
5.Economic factor
Today, no state in the world can
boast of economic self-sufficiency.
Even the United States is greatly
dependent upon world trade for
economic prosperity.
This mutual interdependence of the
economies also works as a
determinant of foreign policy.
6.National and military capacity
States with adequate military
capacity will have greater initiative
and bargaining power in foreign
policy matters.
Only those states have adopted
aggressive postures that feel
militarily strong.
 National capacity determines as
well as executes foreign policy
effectively.

10. External Factors:
Certain external factors and situations also influence and shape a nation’s foreign policy.
These factors are as follows:
i. International Organizations:
ii. World Public Opinion
iii. Reaction of other states
iv. Other external factors

11. External factors
1.Internaltion organization
 These include international law, the U.N.O., and its
activities, UNESCO, I.L.O, W.H.O., I.M.F., etc.
 The nations cannot completely ignore international
law, treaties, and contracts so that their violations
may not put in danger the policies. Almost all
countries are also members of the UN.
 Its decisions and activities affect the foreign policy
of many nations.
2. World public Opinion
 World public Opinion provides dynamism to the
external environment.
 It is always changing. It is tough to know unless it
becomes obvious and organized.

12. External factors
3. Reaction of other states
 The states cannot always neglect the
viewpoint of other states while making their
foreign policies. Moreover, every state has
some friendly nations or allies.
 If the police ignore the reaction of other states,
it has little chance to succeed.
4.Other External Factors
 The other external factors that have a bearing
upon foreign policy are general world
conditions, whether tense or relaxed.
 Special endemic problems inflicting the region
like the Palestinian problem in West Asia.
 Political and economic global problems like
an arms race, nuclear proliferation, economic
depression, economic protectionism, and
economic inequalities .