Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory

by Valerie M. Hudson, Benjamin S. Day

Overview

The go-to text for understanding both the historical development and contemporary contours of foreign policy analysis.

This succinct yet comprehensive introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) is geared toward advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Cogently written, clearly organized, and filled with illuminating examples, the fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated. Beginning with an overview of this broad field of study, Hudson and Day consider theory and research at multiple levels of analysis, including personality and psychology of foreign policy decision makers, small group dynamics, the organizational process, bureaucratic politics, domestic politics, cultural and societal influences, national attributes, and system-level effects on foreign policy. The authors also examine the promise and frustration of theoretical integration in FPA and overview promising new work by non-North American scholars.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798881807269
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/19/2026
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.11(d)

About the Author

Valerie M. Hudson is professor and George H. W. Bush Chair at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

Benjamin S. Day is associate lecturer in the department of International Relations, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables vii

Acknowledgments viii

About the Authors x

Part I Overview and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis 1

1 Introduction: The Situation and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis: A Road Map 3

Hallmarks of Foreign Policy Analysis Theory 4

Explanandum: That Which is to Be Explained in FPA 4

Explanans: That Which Will Provide Explanation in FPA 5

FPA Is Possible and Valuable to IR (and Comparative and Policy Studies) 7

An Example: Waltz, Wendt, and FPA 10

A Road Map of FPA: FPAs Beginnings and Three Paradigmatic Works 14

Classic FPA Scholarship (1954-1993) 16

Group Decisionmaking 17

Comparative Foreign Policy 19

The Psychological and Societal Milieux of Foreign Policy Decisionmaking 20

FPA Self-Reflection in the Late 1970s and 1980s 25

Foreign Policy Analysis from 1993 to the Present 28

A Road Map of the Book 33

Part II Levels of Analysis 37

2 The Individual Decisionmaker: The Political Psychology of World Leaders 39

When and Which? 40

Exploring the Components of the Mind 42

Perception and Cognition 42

Heuristic Fallacies 44

Emotion and Reason 50

The Body and Decisionmaking 53

The Situational Context 56

Attitudes and the Mental Model-and What Lies Beneath 58

Approaching Leaders 62

Psychobiography 62

Content Analysis 64

Other Techniques 69

Case Study: Saddam Hussein 72

3 Group Decisionmaking: Small Group Dynamics, Organizational Process, and Bureaucratic Politics 75

Small Group Dynamics 75

Organizational Process 89

Essence 90

Turf 93

Budget and Personnel 95

Influence 95

Morale 96

Autonomy 97

Bureaucratic Politics 106

Stakeholders 107

Action Channels 108

Resultants 109

Levers of Manipulation 109

Coalitions 112

Subversion and Equalizers 113

The Games 114

Case Study: Detention of Foreign Terrorists at Guantánamo 116

4 Culture and National Identity 122

Conceptualizing Culture and National Identity 123

The Study of Culture 127

The Interface: Culture and Foreign Policy 131

Shared Systems of Meaning in Foreign Policy and Foreign Policymaking 131

Differences in Values and Preferences in Foreign Policy and Foreign Policymaking 136

Prefabricated Templates of Action in Foreign Policy and Foreign Policymaking 139

Thoughts on Moving Ahead 141

5 Domestic Politics 145

The Domestic Polity: Characteristics and Institutions 146

Actors in Domestic Politics 150

Case Study: Iran, U.S. Domestic Politics and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action 151

Regime Strategy on the Domestic Game Board 158

Strategy and Foreign Policy 162

Case Study: U.S. involvement in Vietnam 164

6 The Levels of National Attributes and International System: Effects on Foreign Policy 169

National Attributes and Foreign Policy 170

Size 170

Natural Resources 171

Geography 172

Demographics 174

Political System 175

Military Capabilities 176

Economic Capabilities 177

The International System and Foreign Policy 180

System Attributes and Their Effect on Foreign Policy 181

Concepts of System Transition and Transition's Effect on Foreign Policy 183

Part III Putting It All Together, or Not 189

7 Theoretical Integration in Foreign Policy Analysis 191

Cross-Level Integration: Promise and Frustration 191

Obstacles to Systematized, Cross-Level Theoretical Integration in Foreign Policy Analysis 193

Rosenau's Pre-Theories 194

Brecher and Wilkenfeld: The Question of Quantitative versus Qualitative Integration 196

Rule-Based Production Systems 199

CREON II Efforts 203

A Promise yet to Be Fulfilled 208

Integrating FPA Theory and IR Theory 209

Neoclassical Realism 210

Behavioral IR 212

8 The Future of Foreign Policy Analysis 216

Foreign Policy Analysis beyond North America 217

Less Developed Levels of Analysis 218

Scope Conditions 219

The Dependent Variable 220

Methodology 221

Integration across Levels of Analysis 222

Real Interdisciplinary 222

Critical Insights and Constructivism 223

Policymaking 224

Evaluation 226

Pedagogy 227

Bibliography 231

Index 264

Editorial Reviews

This is a compelling and rewarding book that makes one wonder why it was not written years ago. Using an explicit conceptualization, rich detail, and a wide range of historical illustrations to depict an analytic focus that has preoccupied observers for a long time, Hudson has done a masterful job of synthesizing diverse materials that will be of great value in both the classroom and policymaking circles.” —James N. Rosenau, The George Washington University

“Valerie Hudson forcefully demonstrates the necessity of engaging in foreign policy analysis grounded in human decision making as the foundation for theory-building in international politics. To build her case she mines critical insights from over a half century of scholarship. New students and seasoned professionals will find her bold integrative perspective both provocative and instructive.” —Charles F. Hermann, Texas A&M University

“This readable and insightful treatise on foreign policy theory draws together strands from several schools of foreign policy research united by a common focus on the decision-making processes within states. Students will find this book highly useful in analyzing the complex configurations of agents that shape the political universe of the twenty-first century.” —Stephen G. Walker, Arizona State University

“A powerful analysis of literature, assumptions, and concepts that will be useful to students at undergraduate and graduate levels in history, political science, and international relations.” —Marie Hooper, Oklahoma City University

From the Publisher

This is a compelling and rewarding book that makes one wonder why it was not written years ago. Using an explicit conceptualization, rich detail, and a wide range of historical illustrations to depict an analytic focus that has preoccupied observers for a long time, Hudson has done a masterful job of synthesizing diverse materials that will be of great value in both the classroom and policymaking circles.

James N. Rosenau

This readable and insightful treatise on foreign policy theory draws together strands from several schools of foreign policy research united by a common focus on the decision-making processes within states. Students will find this book highly useful in analyzing the complex configurations of agents that shape the political universe of the twenty-first century.

Stephen G. Walker

A powerful analysis of literature, assumptions, and concepts that will be useful to students at undergraduate and graduate levels in history, political science, and international relations.

Marie Hooper

Valerie Hudson forcefully demonstrates the necessity of engaging in foreign policy analysis grounded in human decision making as the foundation for theory-building in international politics. To build her case she mines critical insights from over a half century of scholarship. New students and seasoned professionals will find her bold integrative perspective both provocative and instructive.

Charles F. Hermann