ABSTRACT
Foreign policy consists of the external actions taken by decisionmakers with the intention of achieving long-range goals and short-term objectives. Action is constrained by the perceived circumstances of the state on behalf of which the decision-makers are acting – its geography, its economy, its demography, its political structure, culture and tradition, its military-strategic situation. This I propose to call the domestic environment of decision-makers. But action is taken with reference to other bodies similarly acting on the international stage, and is likewise constrained by their action. This may be called the international environment of decision-makers. Elements within environments interact with each other, and interaction takes place between environments as well. Various means are available to policymakers in their endeavours to achieve goals. Within the constraints of the decision-makers’ domestic and international environments, who the decision-makers are in particular questions will much affect the selection made among the means available. The choices will also be affected by the procedures and processes through which selections are made. These matters will be dealt with in this and the three following chapters.
