Interdependence and Foreign Policy
| Author | Bengt Sundelius |
| DOI | 10.1177/001083678001500401 |
| Published date | 01 November 1980 |
| Date | 01 November 1980 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Interdependence and Foreign Policy*
BENGT SUNDELIUS
Institute of International Studies, Bradley University, Illinois
Sundelius, B. Interdependence and Foreign Policy. Cooperation and Conflict, XV, 1980,
187-208.
This survey briefly dissects the concept of interdependence, indicating its many interpreta-
tions and dimensions. Following a broad overview of the structure and process of the
international politics of interdependence, as indicated in the literature covered, some
implications for national foreign policy-making are pointed to. The impact of interdepen-
dence on state objectives and instruments, the relation between domestic and foreign
policy, prevalent international processes and actors, and national processes and strategies
are discussed, in particular with a view to the implications for smaller European nations.
Finally, some important limitations of the discussed features are emphasized. The conclu-
sion calls for some empirical research to test the many interesting assertions contained in
the interdependence literature.
I. INTRODUCTION
will assist in giving a clearer comprehension
During the seventies, a significant propor-
of the phenomenon.
tion of the international relations literature
Following this conceptual discussion, the
has been devoted to analysis of international
essay continues with a review of some of
interdependence. It has been argued that
the many interesting assertions in the lit-
world politics is changing from a traditional
erature regarding the structure and process
balance-of-power game to a modified sys-
of the international politics of interdepen-
tem of interactions characterized by inter-
dence. Some implications for the external
dependence. At times, an assumption is also
conditions and internal processes of national
made that the international system is
foreign policy are noted. An attempt to
changing for the better. It is hoped that
indicate some limits for the discussed fea-
interdependence will make for increased
tures is also made. The paper draws atten-
international political cooperation and that
tion to a research area offering many in-
all parties will benefit from this new, more
triguing and fundamental questions.
harmonious order.
In this study, interdependence is viewed
II.
SOME DIMENSIONS OF INTER-
as an analytical concept which may prove
DEPENDENCE
.
helpful in arriving at an understanding of
contemporary international relations. The
Several dimensions of the concept of inter-
term is not seen as a normative guide to
dependence can be explored. One of the
policy, neither does it infer a harmonious,
most fundamental is the distinction between
cooperative state of affairs. Rather, the con-
sensitivity interdependence and vulnerability
cept denotes a set of international charac-
interdependence. Oran Young defines the
teristics which help to define the present
former as ’the extent to which events oc-
international
system.
Interdependence,
curring in any given part or within any
however, is a rather vague and multifaceted
given component units of a world system
concept. The term is defined and used dif-
affect (either physically or perceptually)
ferently by various scholars. It is hoped that
events taking place in each of the other
a brief review of its many interpretations
parts or component units of the system’ .1
1
188
This sensitivity aspect, often referred to as
vulnerable to conditions in other societies.
systemic interdependence, is basic to sev-
According to several scholars, Oran Young,
eral analysts.2 2
Edward Morse, Richard Cooper, Karl
To several writers, the sensitivity aspect
Deutsch, and Peter Katzenstein, among
is too broad to give a useful definition of
others, the growth of international transac-
international interdependence. They argue
tions serves as an increasingly important
that being sensitive to environmental condi-
transmission belt of international change.
5
tions does not necessarily mean being sig-
As a result, the present day menace is the
nificantly affected by external forces. Such
inability to effectively isolate societies from
an outcome is also conditioned by the
each other. National economic problems,
ability to adapt to environmental changes.
political unrest, technological innovations
The availability and costs of alternatives to
and business practices as well as consumer
continued external impacts must also be
tastes, fashions, and scientific ideas are
considered. These factors are basic to what
quickly diffused throughout the world.
is generally called vulnerability interdepen-
The existence of such transnational ties
dence. To Alex Inkeles this is the crucial
across a wide range of human activity pro-
dimension of the concept. He writes, ’Inter-
vides many governments with a serious
connectedness may suggest, but does not
challenge. On the one hand, nations may
necessarily define interdependence. Depen-
experience some of the rewards of social
dence exists where a service commodity or
and economic integration from these flows.
resource obtained from abroad is relatively
On the other hand, increased sensitivities
vital and not easily substitutable. Inter-
may also lead to greater policy interdepen-
dependence exists where there are relatively
dence. This concept refers to the effects of
equal or balanced exchanges of such
one
government’s policy on another.6
6
goods’.3 Vulnerability interdependence re-
Political leaders are sensitive to the deci-
lates to more permanent relations, ones
sions of their colleagues and may even copy
which are costly to break or alter.
their
actions.
For
example,
trans-
Keohane and Nye point out that nations
governmental networks of senior officials
with similar sensitivities to environmental
often contribute to transnational policy dif-
conditions may in fact experience different
fusion within specialized sectors.’ A unilat-
vulnerabilities to external forces. The dif-
eral policy decision may also seriously af-
ference between European and North
fect the choices available to other govern-
American approaches to the OPEC nations
ments. For one thing, such a decision by a
in 1973/74 is a case in point. While both
leading government may restrict the options
continents are highly sensitive to changes in
remaining to other states. Similarly, a desire
oil production and prices, the U.S. is far
to nullify the possible negative effects of a
less vulnerable to such external impacts.
neighboring policy on one’s own society
Differing degrees of relative vulnerability
may, in effect, force a government to accept
also involve different capacities to manipu-
a certain policy choice.
late interdependence to enhance the influ-
In
addition
to
separately analyzing
ence over international outcomes. This vul-
societal and policy interdependence, a
nerability aspect is the most crucial dimen-
number of scholars have stressed the re-
sion to those scholars and statesmen who
lationship between these dimensions. For
view international interdependence as an
example, Karl Kaiser has pointed out that
important power resource to be utilized to-
one reason why transnational relations are
ward national objectives.4 4
very important to contemporary world poli-
A useful distinction can be made between
tics is that the vertical ties between society
societal interdependence and policy inter-
and government have been strengthened
dependence. Societies are both sensitive and
during the post-war era.8 In the past, the
189
societal sector operated more independently
ers view the concept as a systemic property
of governmental or political involvement.
important in arriving at an understanding of
At that time, the prevailing laissez-faire
the structure of the international system.
attitude of limited governmental responsi-
Oran Young, Ernest Haas, Andrew Scott,
bility left ample room for international
and Alex Inkeles are interested in mapping
dealings beyond state involvement or con-
out the ’emerging social structure of the
cern. Thus, many commercial and financial
world’ .13 To them, interdependence is an
issues were not directly introduced on the
important structural feature with ramifica-
agendas of international political relations.
tions for the actors participating in it. Ac-
Today, the expanded role and the responsi-
cordingly, interdependence is regarded as
bility of government encompass virtually all
an absolute condition with similar, but not
aspects of society. As a result, international
indentical, effects on the nation-states. An
nongovernmental relations have become
important task facing these analysts is the
politically more important as domestic gov-
detection of changes in the system gener-
ernment activity has expanded.
ated by increased interdependence.
Some writers have studied a distinct
Many writers choose to study interna-
functional dimension of interdependence
tional interdependence at the level of unit
across the policy-societal axis. Studies of
interaction, in which case the concept is
economic relations have been undertaken by
seen as a relative condition involving two or
Cooper, Morse, Rosecrance, Inkeles, and
more international actors. Instead of being a
Keohane and Nye.9 These works have
feature of the system, interdependence is a
pointed to the restraining effects of
property of the relation. Robert Keohane
economic sensitivities on governmental
and Joseph Nye have given considerable
policy and the international societal impacts
attention to these issues. 14 They focus on
of...
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