ABSTRACT
In assessing the influence of domestic politics on foreign and defence policy, it is extremely important not to be deceived by appearances. Apparently strong regimes can be affected by persistent and internal divisions that make the creation of a clear foreign policy extremely difficult. Conversely, coalitions that appear to rest on shaky political foundations may have been able to establish a minimum agreement which permits and even requires a consistent approach to foreign policy. Most Western states have some domestic constraints on foreign policy that affect the style and content of external activities and commitments. Few can afford, as did the England of Lord Russell, simply to ‘meddle and to muddle’; most must seek acceptable alignments with others and maintain a clear course that encounters limited domestic opposition.
