Structure and Agency in Structure and Agency in Foreign Policy AnalysisForeign Policy Analysis

Week 8: Concepts and Week 8: Concepts and Approaches in Politics and Approaches in Politics and

International RelationsInternational Relations

The Agent-Structure DebateThe Agent-Structure Debate

What is the agent-structure debate?What is the agent-structure debate?Structure: ‘the sets of factors which make up Structure: ‘the sets of factors which make up

the multiple environments in which agents the multiple environments in which agents operate, and they shape the nature of operate, and they shape the nature of choices, by setting limits to the possible but choices, by setting limits to the possible but also, more profoundly, by determining the also, more profoundly, by determining the nature of the problems which offer there by nature of the problems which offer there by shaping our very life-worlds’. shaping our very life-worlds’.

The Agent-Structure DebateThe Agent-Structure Debate

What is the agent-structure debate?What is the agent-structure debate?Agency: ‘Agents are the entities capable of Agency: ‘Agents are the entities capable of

decisions and actions in any given context. decisions and actions in any given context. They may be single individuals or collectives They may be single individuals or collectives and they may be characterised by conscious and they may be characterised by conscious intentions or by patterns of behaviour which at intentions or by patterns of behaviour which at least in part do not result from deliberation.’least in part do not result from deliberation.’

Implications of the Agency-Implications of the Agency-Structure DebateStructure Debate

We can talk about the agent-structure We can talk about the agent-structure debate in two different ways. debate in two different ways. One is the unit of analysis. One is the unit of analysis.

Units help us divide the world while actors have Units help us divide the world while actors have independent will and exorcise decision-making.independent will and exorcise decision-making.

The other is modes of explanation.The other is modes of explanation.Foreign policy making is a complex process of Foreign policy making is a complex process of

interaction between many actors, differentially interaction between many actors, differentially embedded in a wide range of different structures. embedded in a wide range of different structures. Thus, a relationship between the two.Thus, a relationship between the two.

Theory and Agency-StructureTheory and Agency-Structure

Neo-realism: Structure determines Neo-realism: Structure determines behaviourbehaviour

Liberalism/Pluralism: Agency mattersLiberalism/Pluralism: Agency mattersConstructivism: link between agency and Constructivism: link between agency and

structure, mutually determinedstructure, mutually determined

FPA and Agency-StructureFPA and Agency-Structure

Where does FPA sit in this scheme?Where does FPA sit in this scheme?Between positivism and constructivismBetween positivism and constructivism

On one hand, we can rely on empirical knowledge On one hand, we can rely on empirical knowledge to explain events and even make predictions at to explain events and even make predictions at times. times.

On the other hand, we conclude that there is a limit On the other hand, we conclude that there is a limit to how much we can generalise from this empirical to how much we can generalise from this empirical data. data.

FPA and Agency-StructureFPA and Agency-Structure

Where does FPA sit in this scheme?Where does FPA sit in this scheme? ‘‘Freewill’ and Rationality: two viewsFreewill’ and Rationality: two views

Choice is illusory given the power of historical Choice is illusory given the power of historical forces on the other.forces on the other.

While individuals do originate action, they are While individuals do originate action, they are limited in their options by their preferences and limited in their options by their preferences and environment (i.e. Structures)environment (i.e. Structures)

Foreign policy and the StateForeign policy and the State

Agency-structure in the international system Agency-structure in the international system meet most usually at the level of the state.meet most usually at the level of the state. Thus, we need to have an idea what we mean by the Thus, we need to have an idea what we mean by the

state because this makes a difference as to where state because this makes a difference as to where foreign policy starts and stops.foreign policy starts and stops.

Also, International politics is about how the state Also, International politics is about how the state behaves at the international level and thus behaves at the international level and thus understanding how the state behaves at the domestic understanding how the state behaves at the domestic level is key to linking the domestic with the level is key to linking the domestic with the international.international.

Foreign policy and the StateForeign policy and the State What is the role of the state in international What is the role of the state in international

politics?politics? Issue of SovereigntyIssue of Sovereignty Foreign policy exists in the space created by ‘states’ Foreign policy exists in the space created by ‘states’

existence and by their lack of omnipotence.’ existence and by their lack of omnipotence.’ The role of the state is to mediate the impact of the The role of the state is to mediate the impact of the

external on the domestic and to find ways of external on the domestic and to find ways of projecting a particular set of concerns in a very projecting a particular set of concerns in a very intractable world. It depends on sovereignty not being intractable world. It depends on sovereignty not being extinguished where it already exists, but otherwise is extinguished where it already exists, but otherwise is more linked to the existence of a distinguishable set more linked to the existence of a distinguishable set of of domestic interestsdomestic interests, which vary independently of , which vary independently of the given of sovereign statehood.the given of sovereign statehood.

Approaches to the StateApproaches to the State

Two types of approaches to the state:Two types of approaches to the state:Outside-in: states evolved as part of regional Outside-in: states evolved as part of regional

power politicspower politics Inside-out: states are essentially the product Inside-out: states are essentially the product

of a social contract to engage in common of a social contract to engage in common causecause

‘‘No interpretation of the state which fails to No interpretation of the state which fails to bind the domestic and the international bind the domestic and the international aspects together can be very convincing.’ aspects together can be very convincing.’

The State and IRThe State and IR

The international system is still anarchical and The international system is still anarchical and thus states must retain armies to defend the thus states must retain armies to defend the state in a self-help systemstate in a self-help system

In a complicated international system, we need In a complicated international system, we need states to provide identity, direction and agency.states to provide identity, direction and agency.

The state offers protection of ‘private space’, The state offers protection of ‘private space’, that is the capacity to regulate or protect social that is the capacity to regulate or protect social behaviour and traditions.behaviour and traditions.

Domestic Politics and Foreign Domestic Politics and Foreign PolicyPolicy

Inherent link between the domestic and Inherent link between the domestic and internationalinternational International determinants of foreign policyInternational determinants of foreign policyDomestic determinants of foreign policyDomestic determinants of foreign policy

Robert Putnam: the logic of two-level of gamesRobert Putnam: the logic of two-level of games Ex: Trade negotiationsEx: Trade negotiations

Questions about the StateQuestions about the State

Should we restrict foreign policy to that only Should we restrict foreign policy to that only done by states or can other units have a foreign done by states or can other units have a foreign policy?policy?

Should foreign and defence policy be delegated Should foreign and defence policy be delegated almost wholly to a small elite, on the grounds almost wholly to a small elite, on the grounds that dealings with other states requires secrecy, that dealings with other states requires secrecy, continuity, experience and personal contacts? If continuity, experience and personal contacts? If so, what does say about democracy or popular so, what does say about democracy or popular sovereignty? sovereignty?

Whose interests are served by a state’s foreign Whose interests are served by a state’s foreign policy? policy?

Expectation of Foreign PolicyExpectation of Foreign Policy

Whose interests are served by a state’s foreign Whose interests are served by a state’s foreign policy? policy?

Protecting citizens abroadProtecting citizens abroad Projecting identity abroadProjecting identity abroad ‘‘Homeostasis’ or the maintenance of territorial Homeostasis’ or the maintenance of territorial

integrity and social peace against external threatsintegrity and social peace against external threats Advancing prosperityAdvancing prosperity Making decisions on interventions abroadMaking decisions on interventions abroad Negotiating a stable international orderNegotiating a stable international order Protecting the global commons (Environmentalism, Protecting the global commons (Environmentalism,

global security (broadly defined))global security (broadly defined))