This ground-breaking text provides the ideal introduction to the ever-changing field of foreign policy. With a unique combination of theories, actors and cases in a single volume, the expert contributors provide students with a valuable and accessible introduction to what foreign policy is and how it is conducted.

With an emphasis throughout on grounding theory in empirical examples, the textbook features a section dedicated to relevant and topical case studies where foreign policy analysis approaches and theories are applied.
The expert team of contributors clearly conveys the connection between international relations theory, political science, and the development of foreign policy analysis, emphasizing the key debates in the academic community.

New to this edition
- New chapters on postcolonialism and gender support the growing inclusion of these topics in foreign policy teaching.
- Foreign policy case study chapters in part three are fully revised with more systematic focus on Asia, and major revisions to the chapters on China, India, and Brazil to reflect contemporary discourse.
- New chapter on aid diplomacy.
- Available to all users of the e-book and Politics Trove, online resources have been fully updated and new multiple-choice questions for students added.

Digital formats and resources
The fourth edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources.
- The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features, and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks
- Additional online resources include self-test questions for students, PowerPoint slides for lecturers, and a timeline updated to show the latest key foreign policy events.

Steve Smith, UK Government's International Education Champion,Tim Dunne, Provost and Senior Vice-President, University of Surrey,Amelia Hadfield, Dean International, Head of Department of Politics, University of Surrey,Nicholas Kitchen, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Surrey,Steve Smith

Sir Steve Smith is the UK Government's International Education Champion, and the Prime Minister's Special Representative to Saudi Arabia for Education. He was Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 2002-2020

Dr Amelia Hadfield is Dean International and Head of Department of Politics at the University of Surrey.

Professor Tim Dunne is Provost and Senior Vice-President at the University of Surrey.


Nicholas Kitchen is Senior Lecturer of International Relations and Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Power Competition, University of Surrey.

0. Introduction, Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield, Nicholas Kitchen, and Tim DunneSection 1: Foreign policy analysis: history and theory1. The history and evolution of foreign policy analysis, Valerie M. Hudson2. Realism and foreign policy, William C. Wohlforth3. Liberalism and foreign policy, Michael W. Doyle4. Constructivism and foreign policy, Trine Flockhart5. Discourse Analysis, post-structuralism, and foreign policy, Lene Hansen6. Gender and foreign policy, Roberta Guerrina7. Postcolonialism and foreign policy, Priya Chacko and Vineet ThakurSection 2: Analysing foreign policy: challenges, actors, tools8. Strategic assessment and grand strategy, Nicholas Kitchen9. Making decisions: rational, psychological, and neurological approaches, Janice Gross Stein10. The national security state, Robert Patman11. Economic statecraft, Michael Mastanduno12. Public diplomacy, Caitlin Byrne13. Aid diplomacy, David Williams14. Global challenge: shaping climate change policy, Matt McDonaldSection 3: Foreign policy case studies15. The Cuban Missile Crisis, Graham Allison16. Neoconservatism and the domestic sources of American foreign policy: the role of ideas in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Yuen Foong Khong17. China's approach to the protection of its interests overseas, Andrea Ghiselli18. India and the world: civilizational narratives in foreign policy, Amrita Narlikar19. Brazil's rise and fall in world politics, Feliciano de Sa Guimaraes, Irma Silva and Miriam Saraiva20. The Arab/Persian Gulf as a subregional security complex, Gareth Stansfield and Allan Hassaniyan21. The European Union: building a common foreign policy, Lisbeth Aggestam22. Energy and foreign policy: EU-Russia energy dynamics, Amelia Hadfield23. The failure of diplomacy and protection in Syria, Karin Aggestam and Tim Dunne24. Global health governance and COVID-19, Jeremy Youde