The purpose of this thesis is to outline a framework of analysis for the study of foreign policy and to apply this framework to an analysis of the factors shaping the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China. There are two basic approaches to the study of foreign policy. The first, the historical approach, is essentially descriptive and is primarily concerned with improving our factual knowledge of the behaviour of particular states. The second, the anayltical approach, focuses upon state behaviour in general and attempts to formulate valid generalizations about state behaviour. Its ultimate goal is the elaboration of a general theory of foreign policy. Each of these approaches is useful within its respective range. This thesis is concerned solely with an examination of the nature and utility of the analytical approach. [...]

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Since the end of the Cold War, considerable attention has been paid to "ethnic" or "identitive" conflicts. Some scholars argue that these conflicts tend to draw in 'kin' states who support the belligerent(s) with whom they share identitive affinities. This thesis examines such involvement, based on identitive affinities, in ethnopolitical conflicts. In particular, it analyses the pattern of involvement of one country: Iran. Specifically, it looks at Iran's policy towards five conflicts: Afghanistan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Iraq, South Lebanon and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. / This thesis argues that kinship is only a permissive cause of involvement while the presence and scope of involvement are determined by other factors, in the following order: security threats, non-security interests (influence, economic interests), and ideology. Proximity is of great importance as security threats usually emanate from neighbours and not from far-away enemies.

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The rise of the United States as the dominant actor in international affairs since the end of the Cold War has motivated the development of theories of leadership and hegemony. Additionally, new questions about the role of unilateralism have emerged, following the events of September 11, 2001, and the recent U.S.-led war in Iraq. However, despite the emphasis on leadership and unilateralism, the applied research using these concepts has not kept pace with their increasing importance in today's world. In this context, this paper develops a framework that conceptualizes leadership as having two main components: (1) the structural capabilities that provide the context for leadership; and (2) the unilateral contributions and commitments that constitute the exercise of leadership. This framework will be used to understand trends in alliance formation and the implications of leadership for the institutionalization of alliances.

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