Role analysis in international politics: a causal hypothesis

Abstract

This article explores the processes, and the influences thereon, underlying foreign policy decisionmaking. Three mutually interdependent influences are identified as fundamental to the causal sequence of the foreign policy decisionmaking process, namely; national capability, ego‐role perception and the external environment. It is suggested that these three areas may be incorporated in the concept “role” in an effort to conceptualize the causal sequence in international interaction.