ABSTRACT
The chapter assumes that Malawi has historically operated in a world system that is characterized by specific economic and political interactions, which affect the organization of its economy, political processes, and social structures. It seeks to investigate the underlying features of Malawi's foreign policy and policy-making processes by placing the country within the context of the international system. The chapter examines the manner in which national components articulate with the international political economy and suggests what the consequences of this articulation are. It examines how underdevelopment and external economic dependence have constrained Malawi's capacity to determine autonomous foreign policies. The chapter explores the effects of domestic political and economic circumstances on foreign policy decisions. It investigates the impact of globalization on the foreign policy processes of Malawi and looks at the changes which have occurred in the light of the democratization and liberalization of the political process in that country.
