Foreign Policy Analysis and Ethics of Responsibility

Abstract

Abstract This chapter outlines five key theoretical perspectives in International Relations (IR), namely Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Poststructuralism, and Critical Theory. In each case, the chapter explores how Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) scholarship allows us to understand how the insights garnered from these theoretical perspectives translate into the real-world choices and actions of decision-makers. Using the idea of responsibility, the chapter investigates each theory and how it: identifies different responsible actors; differently defines responsible action; and holds different perceptions of what constitutes responsible scholarship. The result is multiple possible FPAs, each providing important insights into the ethical and practical application of IR theory.