Foreign Policy

Paper Summary:

This paper claims that the two schools of thought, liberalism and realism, are much more closely linked than theorists believe. It explains that both schools of thought desire the perpetuation of the nation-state, and in so doing, both seek out the most viable action with regard to an international situation. The paper focuses on the Canadian foreign policy, and mentions that it is especially opportune for such a blending of theories. The author expands on the concept of soft power. The paper also explores other situations in which soft power creates a bridge between liberalism and realism. Canada's foreign policy as a primarily liberalism-based theory with undertones of realism, similar to the soft power thesis, are proposed.

From the Paper:

"Liberalism and realism proceed from different fundamental interpretations about the international system: assumptions about the identity of the other state actors , the relationship of those actors to both state institutions and international ones like the United Nations, and the determining factors of state relations with one another. Realists must take the liberal critique seriously, and vice versa; neither theory has been proven as superior thus far. This essay will examine the underlying failures of both schools of thought and examine the possibility that they are in actuality much closer to one another than originally perceived. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Amin, Samir, "The Political Economy of the Twentieth Century," Monthly Review, June 2000, http://www.monthlyreview.org/600amin.htm
• Chong, Alan, "Singaporean Foreign Policy and the Asian Values Debate, 1992-2000: an experiment in soft power," The Pacific Review 17:1, 2004, pp. 95-133.
• Fukuyama, Francis, "The End of History?" National Interest 16 Summer 1989, pp. 3-18.
• Gambill, Gary, "The Balance of Terror: War by Other Means in the Middle East," Journal of Palestine Studies 28:1, 1998, pp. 51-66
• Hoffman, Bruce, "The Logic of Suicide Terrorism," The Atlantic Monthly June 2003

More papers on Foreign Policy:

• Term Paper # 131580 : "The Foreign Policy of France: An Analysis"
• Analytical Essay # 134671 : "Morality in US Foreign Policy"
• Essay # 137692 : "Canadian Foreign Policy in World War II: An Analysis"
• Essay # 74182 : "Western Foreign Policy & Global Terror"

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