UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Social Sciences Division

Towards an Inclusive Foreign

Policy Making
Article Review on Begun but Unfinished
by Charles F. Herman

Kruzel, Joseph & Rosenau, James (1989). Journeys

through World Politics: Autobiographical Reflections of
Thirty- Four Academic Travelers. Lexington Books.

Submitted by
Ma. Nikka Andrea F. Oquias
BA Political Science 2

Submitted to
Prof. Zenaida Ligan
Professor PS 180

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Towards an Inclusive Foreign Policy Making

Deciding to explore the domains of international relations is not an easy task at all.
Not only because of the difficulty in easily establishing a particular area to specialize but
given the broadness of the discipline what makes it difficult to deal with is associated with
the method on how to operate and how work in an arena defined by anarchy where no central
authority that exists which is capable of demanding compliance and obedience on state and
non-state actors making the responsibility of maintaining peace and security easy.
The journey of Charles Hermann towards the world of international politics is filled
with experiences- good and bad that had been instrumental in shaping his approaches towards
international relations. His involvement in various institutions- first his school which offered
him practical experience in politics, then his church and parents who contributed substantially
into raising his international awareness and consciousness about war. Mr. Charles natural
inclination of being part of something bigger is manifested with wanting to become part of
the U.S. Air Force. However failing the eye exam strips him of that opportunity to engage in
such profession. The experience forced him to pursue a career in aeronautical engineering
wherein he did a very low performance in his chemistry and calculus class. But despite this,
his engagement in a college based movement allowed him to meet influential personalities
and his career influencing courses in international relations never set him far from his dream.
What is more, his close relation with the faculty in the social science provided him with the
opportunity to develop himself in a constructive manner by taking part in the activities for
which his professors were part.
His personal development had all shaped his approach to international politics and the
social sciences. By the same token, his personal experiences equipped him with the additional
substantive knowledge about international politics and foreign policy and introduced him to a
variety of research techniques and methods that proved essentially helpful in his future
engagements especially as he is part of an international institution for which he is part.
This paper hereby argues that foreign policy is a feasible initiative that is not remote
or detached to the lives of any person. In one way or another it transcends boundaries and
binds every person which only compels policy makers to become problem- oriented
individuals and be sensitive in the context as to how the problem arises and provide
substantive solutions that would address the difficult situation dealt within international
relations.
1

Towards an Inclusive Foreign Policy Making

2.0 Analysis
Building on Experience
Subsequent experiences in life reveal ones approach to the comparative study of
foreign policy. Charles Hermans personal development, first by being raised in a family that
oriented him in the outside affairs and thus played a significant part in shaping his interests in
international relations and then for the most part his graduate school education had developed
his skills not only as an observer but as an analyst as well that has further allowed him to
become more introspective and perhaps more tolerant. The social consciousness motivation
that had fostered being an international relations student provided an avenue for him to
become socially aware and socially concerned on the issues that affects all nations on all
states.
Ideas must build on idea. Hermans engagement with his professors who have
encouraged him to explore ideas with other people, including those in other disciplines rather
than focus exclusively on his own efforts somehow trained him to develop strategies that
allowed him to become inclusive in his approach and keeps him systemic and systematic in
viewing international relations.
Theory as a Guide in Action
Theory must not be tackled in isolation from the political dynamics and actions of the
community which it must operate. Harold Lasswell was particularly concerned with this
tendency of separating theory from practice. His profound insights as to why there is a gap
between theoretical efforts in the academic and policy communities establishes a very
important idea especially in the construction of foreign policy theory. The insights put
forward by Lasswell guides international organizations particularly those involved in the
creation of foreign policies to operate on the premise the foreign policy theories must be
constructed in the manner by which it is oriented with the nature of the problem. The
involvement of Charles Herman with Lasswell is a first step towards putting the theory in to
practice. The CREON or the Comparative Research on the Events of Nations by which he is
part gives him the opportunity to influence the operation in the manner beneficial for the
organization and practically become a leading example in the operation of others.

Towards an Inclusive Foreign Policy Making

Shared concerns exist in the common attempts of both the policy and academic
communities to move back and forth between generalized ideas about how the world works
and observations of actual episodes.
Policy- oriented and Problem- Oriented
International decisions are made to address and mitigate the restrictive nature of
international actions. Foreign policy is important as the mechanism through which usually
national government manages that states relations with other states and with other
international bodies, highlighting the role that decisions play, in global politics. Hence,
foreign policy decisions must be made in consideration of the nature of the problem and in
consideration of the factors for which it arises. The CREON that maintains at its core the
principle that policy- oriented science must problem- oriented science this to some extent
gives us hope that foreign policy will not be any more alienated to the plights and quandary
of the states and its people who are most affected.
3.0 Conclusion
The real challenge left to us is the question on what significant contribution can we
make in the international field and not just what can our foreign policy makers can plan and
set for all of us. Foreign policy lays out courses of action for the government and its various
agencies; foreign policy- making on the other hand involves the establishment of goals and
the selection of means to achieve them (Heywood 2010). This relationship therefore allows
us to take prime consideration that foreign policy must always exhibit comprehensive
characteristics; it must be inclusive in nature so as not to allow the possibility of isolating and
estranging one state from the other and so as not to reach a state of dilemma and bias in favor
against any state.
For a newly established organization the challenge has just begun, the journey
towards achieving a secure and ordered international politics is not finished yet, which calls
for all states and for its entire people to cooperate and to take the prerogative to make
substantial contribution in the international field.