domestic players
While the President tends to be the face of US foreign policy, there are quite a few individuals and groups on the domestic level that contribute to foreign policy formation. The three branches of government each have their own roles, which are intertwined due to the nature of the checks and balances system. Additionally, government departments and agencies provide information to decision makers throughout the policy formation process. Depending on the issue, public opinion may also influence foreign policy decisions.
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foreign players
The most obvious foreign player is other countries and their heads of state. At one time, that was essentially the extent of those with whom a country would have foreign policy dealings with. However, in the last century or so, intergovernmental organizations have become another foreign entity to be a player in foreign policy decisions. Some examples of international organizations are the European Union (EU), the North American Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Each of these are a conglomeration of states, but there are also non-governmental international organizations, like Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. More recently, non-state violent actors, such as terrorist organizations, have also become an important actor in foreign policy formation.
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policy process
Forming foreign policy, like any policy, is not simple. Sometimes a specific problem will crop up that needs to be dealt with - Country A is threatening to wage war on your country. Sometimes it's more vague - do you want to maintain relations with Country X as they are, or tweak them?
After identifying the problem, finding a solution will be no easier. Information needs to be complied, options fleshed out, and a decision made. Unfortunately, there is no fool proof way to make sure that the decision you make is the right one. If it's wrong, then hopefully the situation will allow you time to iterate.
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u.s. policy history
A country will almost always have a set of guiding principals that help form the foreign policy. Perhaps a country believes that isolationist practices are best, maybe they think trade will decrease the chance of conflict, or something else entirely. Throughout the course of American history, there have been several different approaches to foreign policy - from isolationism to actively spreading democracy.
In addition to overarching themes of foreign policy, there are some foreign policy decisions that will stand out in American collective memory. Most of these are wars, like Vietnam or the War on Terror, as these tend to be the most emotionally evocative. Such history - both broad and narrow - is and will continue to be used as historical analogies to help inform current and future decisions.
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ideologies
In the scholarly field of foreign policy, there are several different schools of thought on how the world works. Certainly, decisions on how to interact with foreign entities cannot be made without a thorough understanding of the axioms governing international relations. The two most prominent schools of thought are realism and liberalism. There are also many iterations of these ideologies, as well as some that are completely separate.
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Test your knowledge with some games that walk through some real foreign policy scenarios!
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The Cuban Missile Crisis
This scenario walks step by step through one of the scarier points in U.S. history - and you're the one calling the shots!
The War on Terror
This scenario is about the beginning of the George W. Bush presidency, starting on day one with a briefing from CIA Director Tenet. You will have to navigate the country through two different wars in the span of only a few years!
The Versailles Treaty
This scenario requires four players to represent the Big Four - the United States, Great Britain, France, and Italy - who were the decision makers on the content of the Versailles Treaty. You will walk through a selection of options for the treaty, and will have to come to a consensus, keeping your country's best interests in mind.
Climate Change
You will need a partner for this scenario - one of you will represent the United States, and one will represent China. You've already agreed to a climate change treaty, but will you uphold it? And is there any logic behind these decisions? Play and see!
theories
Where ideologies are broad sets of ideas to understand international relations as a whole, theories are much more specific. They try to explain one tiny part of international relations. Like ideologies, theories are rarely agreed upon.
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