Foreign policy doctrine

A foreign policy doctrine is a general statement of a country's foreign policy and the belief system that inform it and guide its strategy. It may be presented in the form of a political speech, doctrine or other official document.^[1]

The purpose of a foreign policy doctrine is to provide general rules for the conduct of foreign policy through decisions on international relations. These rules allow the political leadership of a nation to deal with a situation and to explain the actions of a nation to other nations. “Doctrine” is usually not meant to have any negative connotations; it is especially not to be confused with “dogma.”

In some cases, the statement is made by a political leader, typically a nation’s chief executive or chief diplomat, and comes to be named after that leader. Richard Nixon’s justification for the phased withdrawal of the United States from the Vietnam War, for example, came to be called the Nixon Doctrine. This pattern of naming is not universal, however; Chinese doctrines, for example, are often referred to by number.

Argentina

Denmark

Ellemann-Jensen doctrine

Germany

Finland

Paasikivi–Kekkonen doctrine

India

Gujral Doctrine

Japan

Mexico

Poland

Giedroyc Doctrine

Russia / Soviet Union

United States

References

^ Rasmus Brun Pedersen. "Business as usual? Assessing change and continuity in states foreign policy traditions" (PDF). dpsa.dk. Danish Political Science Association. Retrieved 12 November 2024.

[1] Rasmus Brun Pedersen. "Business as usual? Assessing change and continuity in states foreign policy traditions" (PDF). dpsa.dk. Danish Political Science Association. Retrieved 12 November 2024.

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