Foreign Policy and the Bureaucratic Politics Model

Exam
First Name, Last Name
Institutional Affiliation
16 May, 2022
Part A: Short Answers
1 BPM (Bureaucratic Politics Model) examines foreign policy on the premise that decisions are made by many entities within a particular state. In this model, each separate entity has its own perspective on what is the best decision at individual, organizational and national levels. Thus, in this model, collective action is dependent on fruitful negotiations and a final consensus among all entities involved (Brummer & Hudson, 2015).
Conversely, the Organizational Process Model does not explain foreign policy as a group of entities but as a mix of large powerful organizations or agencies as decision makers. Unlike BPM, actions can only be taken with proper authorization and adherence to the existing standard processes and procedures (Morin & Paquin, 2018).
2 Prospect theory is a behavioral theory articulated by Kahneman and Tversky (1979) that suggests a difference in the way people value gains and losses. The theory suggests that a person is willing to be a risk taker when they perceive they will encounter substantial loss and become risk averse when they perceive their situation is one of gain (Brummer & Hudson, 2015).
To date, analysts have used prospect theory to determine whether foreign policy decision makers are averting or seeking risk. In other words, this theory provides a context for maintaining the rationality of the decision-making process in procedural terms (Morin & Paquin, 2018).
3 While negotiation and coercion are both instruments of foreign policy, negotiation is fundamentally based on the combination of coercion and another instrument such as socialization. An excellent example Is in 2002 when the EU convince its neighbors in Europe to join them in the abolishment of the death penalty in two ways; through economic conditionality and by having a discourse on human rights. They used both coercion and socialization to negotiate with their neighbors (Morin & Paquin, 2018). Therefore, the relationship between the two is that coercion can be present from negotiations.
4 Although the headlines often place emphasis on the perceived failures of peacekeeping, its significance in amelioration of the security dilemma has been great. This includes interventions like protection of civilians, ensuring security and stability in the affected regions such as the Middle East and providing airlift support in terms of food and medical supplies to the injured. Research identifies various limitations of peacekeeping. Although peacekeeping is intended as a pub...