Strategic Politicians, Institutions, and Foreign Policy

Most would agree that political leaders want to stay in office. What do their aspirations mean for foreign policy-making? The contributors to this book probe the way in which the desire of political leaders to stay in office shapes the choices they make in foreign policy. Moving beyond theories of international politics that emphasize the pursuit of power by the state as the goal of foreign policy, the writers look at the domestic political reasons why leaders might pursue greater power in the world for their states. In both the area of conflict policy and choices over economic policy, the essays demonstrate that leaders behave strategically, shaping their policies to satisfy key constituents whose support is necessary to keep them in power. Enhanced state power is used to satisfy constituents who will in turn be more likely to support the continued tenure of the leader.