THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE STATE

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of understanding the essence, structural factors and goals of foreign policy activities of states within the framework of the leading paradigms of international relations theory – neorealism, neoliberalism and constructivism. The research objective is to clarify the specifics and differences in the conceptual vision of various theoretical approaches to the principles underlying the foreign policy of modern states and the goals they pursue in the international arena. The main research methods employed are general scientific methods (such as analysis, synthesis and deduction), comparative methods and historical methods, a systematic approach. Despite significant differences in the interpretation of international politics between various paradigms, it has been established that they demonstrate adherence to a common position at the theoretical level: viewing a state's foreign policy as a derivative of the nature of international relations. Thus, determining the motives behind foreign policy behaviour of states is directly derived from an understanding of the international environment in which they operate, whether it be a competitive arena of interstate struggle for resources and power, where the rules of the game are determined by national power and agreements between major powers (neorealism), a multi-level network of connections and dependencies between states, where they seek to realise their interests through cooperation (neoliberalism) or a community of actors who constantly interact with each other, shaping international reality (constructivism).

The paradigm of neorealism derives the goals of the foreign policy of states from their national interests and the selfishness inherent in their behaviour in the international arena. The level of power of the state and the structural limitations of the international system determine the logic and tools that the state uses in interstate competition to achieve its goals. In this context, the main foreign policy goals of states are to strengthen their own security, strengthen national power and international influence.

Representatives of the neoliberal paradigm define the growth of national wealth and ensuring international peace as the main goals of the foreign policy of states. Given the growing multilevel and interdependence of relations between modern states, according to neoliberals, the main means of achieving these goals should be cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis. In turn, constructivists derive the motives of the foreign policy behaviour of states (ruling elites) from the peculiarities of their perception of international reality and self-identification in relations with the outside world.