Introduction: New Directions in Foreign Policy Analysis

Kurzfassung/Abstract

In recent years the international order, which seemed both liberal and secure in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War, has been challenged by ethno-populist forces and increasing global and domestic inequality. Masculine discourses and practices continue to inform foreign policy even though a number of states and foreign policy leaders are advocating the promotion of gender equality as part of their foreign policies. The context of foreign policy-making has shifted considerably, with the increasing influence of non-western actors, transnational actors, non-state actors and new technologies. Similarly, regional organizations have become foreign policy actors in their own right, thus not only presenting a forum or tool at the disposal of member states but at times also constraining states' room for manoeuvre in external affairs. While it is intuitive to assume that leaders do influence foreign policy, it is still unclear which characteristics of leaders are the most relevant in this respect, and how those characteristics are best ascertained in the first place. In any case, the ability of individuals to determine foreign policy is still significant, as evidenced by the changes generated by US President Trump during his tenure of office. At the same time, a plethora of global challenges cast doubt over the extent to which states can pursue their foreign policy objectives alone, which in turn points to the interconnectedness of a variety of actors located on a range of different levels of action.