Feedback loops in a world of complexity: a cybernetic approach at the interface of foreign policy analysis and international relations theory

Abstract

Feedback in foreign policy occurs when a state's foreign policy affects the international context of that state and those changes in context subsequently impact on the state's future foreign policy decisions. In this way, feedback loops can develop, which may become self-reinforcing and in which foreign policy and international context continuously affect each other. Even though such processes are ubiquitous especially in a globalized world, they have hitherto received little systematic attention. We introduce cybernetics as a perspective that puts such feedback effects at the centre of attention and provides an accessible sequential framework for analysing them. Such a cybernetic analysis not only demonstrates the significance of feedback processes in foreign policies but also speaks to several recent debates in international relations theory and foreign policy analysis. In particular, it highlights processes of learning and change, of non-linearity and indeterminacy, and enables the researcher to integrate insights from structure- and agency-based approaches. We outline the merits of a cybernetic analysis by discussing the effects of feedback in the United States' War on Terror.

Notes

We would like to thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments as well as the editorial team of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs for their guidance and assistance throughout the review process. The idea of examining feedback processes first came up in several discussions we had with Herbert Dittgen. For helpful comments and suggestions on previous versions of this paper, we are especially grateful to Christian Bueger, Axel Heck, Gunther Hellmann, Benjamin Herborth, Patrick Jackson, John Trent, Christian Tuschhoff, Wolfgang Wagner and Taylan Yildiz. Finally, many thanks to Wren Chadwick for her excellent language editing. Dirk Peters gratefully acknowledges the support he received through the Centre for Global Cooperation Research (KHK/GCR 21), University of Duisburg–Essen, during the finalization of the manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Frank Gadinger

Frank Gadinger (DPhil, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main) is head of a research unit at the Käte Hamburger Kolleg/Centre for Global Cooperation Research, University of Duisburg-Essen. Email: [email protected]

Dirk Peters

Dirk Peters (DPhil, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main) is a research fellow at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, focusing on international organizations and international law. Email: [email protected]