ABSTRACT
This chapter surveys the foreign policy environment of each of the great powers, with primary emphasis on the interplay between the domestic and external spheres. This chapter explores, in a comparative context, factors like leadership dynamics, key foreign policy interests and issues, and societal influences. In international politics, it is expected that systemic factors (external environment) provide policymakers with important opportunities and constraints as they pursue foreign policy goals (domestic environment). A central finding of the present study is that China continues its ascent in the global order, Russia maintains its authority status, and the United States is still the leading great power but is plateauing.
