Understanding the Bureaucratic Politics of US Foreign Policy

1. The Politics of United States Foreign PolicyChapter 5

2. Bureaucratic politics issues and why they are important • agencies are supposed to perform separate but interrelated fp functions which are then supposed to be coordinated through the National Security Council and by the President. • relative influence of these competing agencies has changed over time. • there has been the emergence of numerous new agencies on fp making scene

3. The Bureaucracy • Hierarchy • Specialization • Routinization

4. The Bureaucracy: How its studied • Historical context • Functions • Structure • Subculture

5. Bureaucratic Model of Decision-Making • interactions among different government organization • bargaining process results in decisions • results in power plays and competition • where you stand is where you sit: individuals represent preferences of bureaucracies • therefore assumes: • agencies with competing interests are involved in decision-making process • agencies bargain for outcomes • recognizes wide-range of possible conflicts among agencies with authority over some aspect of foreign policy • used when personal preferences not taken into account and bargaining process is effective

6. Historical Context of the Bureaucracy • Pre-WWII: apex of the state department • Post WWII: decline • Importance of international affairs • Rise of U.S. power • Global communications revolution • Use of force as a favored policy tool • Importance of international economics

7. State Department - Structure • pyramidal structure • Secretary of State at the top • three major agencies • five undersecretaries • secretary, undersecretaries, and assistant secretary are political jobs/appointments that must be approved by Congress • representation in most of 185 nations/entities that are members of United Nations • Ambassadors are head of embassies abroad

8. State Department Subculture • bright, talented apt people • snobbish, elitist • hostile to outsiders • anti-academic • elite East coast colleges and universities • generalists • believes they are the repository of foreign policy knowledge and resents new presidents and administrators that try to tell them what to do • therefore will sometimes fail to implement directives of White House and choose to carry out its own policy • has not come to grips with changes in fp like pluralism, democratization, and public opinion • Foreign Affairs Training Center does not do adequate job preparing foreign service officers for missions abroad

9. Subculture of the State Department • Five perceived characteristics: • Elitist or exclusivist • Preference for overseas appointments, identify • Emphasis on diplomacy and negotiation • Generalists • Loyal and cautious

10. Functions of the State Department • Represent U.S. government abroad • Express the views of foreign governments • Diplomacy • Analyze and report • Policy advice

11. Structure of the State Department:Foggy Bottom • Size/Composition • Hierarchy: • Secretary of State • Deputy secretary of state • Undersecretaries • Bureau: assistant secretaries and deputy assistant secretaries • Geographic • Issue oriented

12. Structure of the State Department:embassies and consular posts • Ambassador • Deputy chief of mission • Country Team • Others

13. Structure of the State Department:patterns • Hierarchy • Complex policy process • Issue-based • Personnel: Insider’s versus outsiders • Political appointments • Career FSO’s

14. The State’s weaknesses • Perceptions and behaviors • Example: Future of Iraq Project • Defense department v. State

15. State’s strength: individuals • Secretaries of State • Insider-outsider dilemma • Examples: Powell and Rice

16. Public diplomacy • USIA  BBG, Department of state • Media, information • Voice of America, etc. • Public diplomacy and culture • Exchange programs

17. USAID • Agency for International Development (1961) • In Department of state (1998) • Budget • 7 core strategic goals