FOREIGN POLICY

EXECUTION
 INTRODUCTION
A tenuous and ambiguous relationship exists between a policy
and its implementation. Rather than a one-way casual chain,
there exists a reciprocal relationship in which implementation
may affect policy as well as the obverse. In this unit, we will
examine the issue of foreign policy execution or implementation.
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit or section, you should be able to:
i) Explain the process of foreign policy execution;
ii) Describe the actors that are usually involved;
iii) Explain the instruments of foreign policy execution;
iv) Discuss the linkage between foreign policy execution and foreign
policy formulation
 Foreign Policy Statements
Foreign policy statements merely signal the proffered interests
and intentions of a nation. Without specific actions designed to
implement those intentions, even explicitly stated policies may
soon become ineffective. It is not sufficient for the Federal
Republic of Nigeria to say, “We shall continue to do everything
in our power to eliminate apartheid from our continent and to
defend the dignity of man everywhere”.
 Foreign Policy Statements
If the means to implement that policy are not available, and a
willingness to use those is not demonstrated, in the absence of
the demonstrated means and will to carry out the stated
intentions, a potential aggressor may treat the statement as pure
rhetoric or bluff and not be deterred from aggression. Every
nation has machineries for the execution of foreign policy. they
are executed in such a way as to achieve the intended goal.
 Foreign Policy Statements
Foreign policies are executed through the Ministry of Foreign or
External Affairs as well as by the Embassies, Commissions, or
Charge d’Affairs abroad. The intention of the state is usually to
ensure that the policies formulated and the decisions taken on the
foreign policy issues that are of interest to that particular country
do not suffer for lack of implementation; also, that when they get
to the implementation stage
 Foreign Policy Statements
The administration of foreign policy, especially at the higher
levels, is only partially separable from its formulation.
Nevertheless, the two processes are sufficiently distinct in
important ways to justify separate consideration. Foreign policy
administration begins, of course, with the executive who
everywhere possesses the authority to direct the conduct of
foreign relations and their related activities.
 Foreign Policy Statements
The role of the former leader in such matters is normally limited
to ceremonial and social occasions. The functions of the head of
government however, as a political executive, are considerable.
He has certain regular responsibilities of appointing diplomatic
envoys, receiving those from other states, ordering negotiations
with representations of foreign governments, declaring war,
signing treaties, and ensuring peace.
 Foreign Policy Statements
Governments have one ministry or department principally
responsible for the administration of foreign policy. Its head is
designated by such titles as Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs in Great Britain, Secretary of State in the United States,
Minister of Foreign Affairs in France, Secretary of State for
External Affairs in Canada, Minister of Foreign Affairs in
Nigeria.
 Foreign Policy Statements
For the measurement of her foreign relations and the making and
implementation of foreign policy decisions, for example Nigeria
since independence, has established a network of overseas
mission and developed a large and complex administrative
machinery which is directly concerned with foreign affairs – the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, formerly known as the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs is wholly concerned with the day-to-day conduct
of Nigeria foreign relations.
 Foreign Policy Statements
In addition to formulating and carrying out specific policies
designed to achieve a country’s national objectives, the Ministry
and its principal functionaries are charged with the responsibility
for the following matters - “establishment and administration of
diplomatic and consular posts; conduct of government business
in the legislature relating to foreign and Commonwealth affairs;
relations with the diplomatic corps; issuance of passports and
travel certificates, consular matters affecting for examples
Nigerians outside Nigeria, etc. The political head of the ministry
is the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
 Foreign Policy Statements
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organized partly on a geographical
and partly on a functional basis. In this respect, the titles of the various
divisions suggest their respective areas of activities and
responsibilities.
 Foreign Policy Statements
The principal functionaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are
not simply agents carrying out a county’s international policies,
but they are part of the policy making process. To say that the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the official machinery for handling
foreign policy matters is not to say that external affairs are the
exclusive concern of the ministry.
 Foreign Policy Statements
In fact, there are few foreign policy issues, which do not cut
across the traditional lines of demarcation, which separate the
fields of responsibility assigned to various ministries and
agencies. The never-ending problem of overlapping jurisdictions
and conflicting sets of responsibilities in foreign affairs reflect the
practical difficulties in the way of ensuring inter-ministerial
coordination and reconciliation.
 Foreign Policy Statements
In the process of initiating, formulating and executing a
particular policy, there are a number of forces involved apart
from the officially designated people, such as people in
government and in the foreign ministries; there are two other
categories of people involved. One, there is external participants
such as the agents of foreign governments or corporations,
religious organizations, the civil society etc. who are interested in
whatever policies a particular state pursues.
 Foreign Policy Statements
As a result of this, they tend to deploy any means to influence the
decisions taken. The second category of those who influence
foreign policy are persons within the particular country. These
include pressure groups, social or other organizations, and
student bodies. They may, of course, be members of the foreign
policy elite.
 Foreign Policy Statements
As mentioned, a policy is made effective by the steps that are
taken to make it meaningful. Politics is not self-effecting. It must
be supported by action programmes that generally operate in the
external environment of a state, but domestic programmes also
support foreign policy. Immigration, tariff, and agricultural
surplus programmes and domestic policies with external
relevant.
 Foreign Policy Statements
The programmes and actions taken to execute foreign policy are
the instruments of policy. These instruments comprise power
politics, diplomacy; international communication, including
public information and the use of ideology, propaganda, and
manipulation of opinion: economic actions; and use of military
resources. Harold Lasswell of Yale University once described
action programmes as covering “force, deals, goods and ideals”.
 Foreign Policy Statements
The instruments of policy are the principal components of
national strength and constitute national power when given
purpose and direction. This power determines the degree of
success or failure of national policy. The instruments of policy are
the mechanisms that translate policy and programmes into day-
to-day operations and, overtime, result in the outlines of policy
for all interest observers to see. Policy formulation as we have
seen is a most complex process. Implementing policy on a daily
basis along the lines originally intended is one of the most
different tasks confronting government’s decision-makers.
 Foreign Policy Statements
Changing the course of programmes once started involves
changing the minds and everyday routines of individuals and
large organizations. Programme changes take time and
inherently carry costs in terms of people, money, materials and
processes. Rarely is any instrument used alone.
 Foreign Policy Statements
Diplomacy is often directly supported by economic and military
means. A state’s diplomacy may be strengthened also by prestige
gained from its economic, scientific, and military programmes.
Inept diplomacy can weaken a state’s policies. There are patterns
of foreign policies integrating a variety of individual policies and
employing a variety of foreign policies, while utilizing a variety
of instruments to further a particular goal or set of related goals.
 CONCLUSION
Foreign policy execution as an aspect of the pursuit of a country’s
interests cannot easily be separated from foreign policy
formulation per se. The two are inter-related and are
complementary to one another. However, without giving life to
the policies formulated, a state may never be able to protect nor
promote its national interests.
 CONCLUSION
A variety of actors are usually involved in the execution of
foreign policy – the executive of the various countries being the
key actors. However, the foreign policy elite, the academia, civil
society, economic interest groups, and other pressure groups also
contribute directly and indirectly to foreign policy formulation.
 SUMMARY
In this unit, we have discussed foreign policy, foreign policy
execution and the link to the formulation. We also identified the
various foreign policy actors involved in the execution and the
instruments that are usually resorted to.
Assignment
Describe the process of Foreign Policy execution in Nigeria or in
any country of your choice. Who are the key actors?