Foreign Policy-Twin Dimensions

Understanding Foreign Policy

The international relations of a country are an outcome of its Foreign Policy, which generally refers to the set of self-interests strategies pursued by the state to safeguard its national interests. In order to get the crux of the utilitarian aspect of Foreign Policy, it is important to analyse the theoretical and practical dimension of this concept which guides its underlying principles.

Theoretical Aspect- ‘Foreign Policy Ideology’
In general ‘ideology’ refers to the process of organising perceptions into meaningful guidance for behaviour in pursuit of the set goals and objectives. The “Foreign Policy Ideology” can thus be referred to as the organising of the perceptions of international environment that would guide the actions of the State to achieve National Interests (power, security, wealth) within the international framework.

Significance of “Foreign Policy Ideology”
The structure of International system can be viewed as a combination of three elements i.e. material conditions, interests, and ideology, out of which the “ideology” may be considered as most decisive.

While it may be argued that it is the material factor that matters more (‘Economic Infrastructure affecting social/international superstructure), but the way that these material conditions matter depends on ideology. In this respect, it may also be said that power and interests too are largely the function of ideology of the State.
For example African Nations are in need of investments and interventions from various nations (Ex India and China) in order to reap the benefits of their resources. However, preference to India over China can be construed as an ideological preference of ‘Agro-Colonialism’ over ‘Neo-Colonialism’. Thus being a classical example to comprehend the relevance of ideology in determining the way material conditions matter.
Similarly, India’s growing influence in the region as a ‘Soft Power’ and its interests in the Organisations like BRICS, IBSA etc are the outcome of its ideology of ‘Regional Peace’ and ‘Multi-Polar World’ respectively.
The significance of Ideology of Foreign Policy becomes even more evident in the answers to the issues like:
• Why the nuclear arsenal of Britain and France is less dangerous to USA than those of North Korea?
• Why ‘string of pearls’ is perceived as a noose around the neck by the Indian Govt?
• What is the chaos behind Nepal’s Blockade all about?
and many more.
In a nutshell it can be said that conflicts and cooperation in world politics are largely determined by the ‘underlying ideologies’ that prompt the States to pursue policies consistent with these ideologies.

Practical Aspect- Diplomacy:
Diplomacy can be considered as an instrument of pursuing Foreign Policy. It is the Mechanism for the promotion of national interest by means of negotiations and conduct of relations with other nations. Diplomacy is guided and conditioned by the foreign policy of the nation that it represents and in fact can be regarded as the manifestation of the Foreign Policy and the ideology therein. Thus, while the ‘ideology’ is regarded as the theoretical aspect of foreign policy, Diplomacy on the other hand is the practical aspect of the same.

Significance of Diplomacy:
The significance of Diplomacy can be understood by analysaing the objectives that it seeks to achieve.Theses can be analysed under two broad categories i.e. Political Objectives and Non Political Objectives
Political Objective:
The political objectives entail the conventional safeguard and pursuit of the national interests in terms of power, economy and security. Diplomacy seeks to secure the goals of national interest as defined by the foreign policy. It always works for increasing the hegemony of the state over other states.
Non-Political Diplomacy:
In the era when the Globalism and Internationalism dominate the International arena, the non political objectives of diplomacy become equally, rather more important. The interdependence among nations is the most important and valuable fact of international living. Each nation depends upon others for economic and industrial links and trade. Diplomacy always seeks to promote the economic, commercial and cultural links of the nation with other nations.

Relation between Diplomacy and Foreign Policy ‘Ideology’
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy ‘Ideology’ are not exclusive but are related to each other. It is generally believed that nature of Diplomacy is the outcome of the ideology. For example the non violent ideology of India finds its imprints in the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) as well. This ideological Factor dominated the Diplomatic Stance of Indian during the cold war era.
However, there are times when Diplomacy deviates from the ideological aspect of Foreign Policy for the larger interest of the nation (first) and the world (as well). This is evident in the Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of 1971 in spite of India’s strong ideological belief in NAM. Similarly, the ideology of regional peace and cooperation finds a deviation in the wake of India’s recent Diplomatic Stance (Non Violent Punishment~ Fuel blockade) with Nepal.
Nature of Diplomacy of Pakistan towards India is another fine example to demonstrate the relation between theoretical and practical aspects of Foreign Policy. Thus, while it’s true that Diplomacy is the outcome of the ideology, yet there are instances when there is not only a deviation between the two but its diplomacy that germinates or adds a new dimension to the Foreign Policy Ideology.
Therefore both the phenomena supplement each other.

And it is the interplay of these theoretical and practical dimensions that gives a holistic view of foreign policy by enabling a person to understand the nature of foreign policy of a nation and the rationale behind the same.

By: Chandan Sharma