This paper is an attempt to research a hypothesis
concerning the policy formation processes of an open and of
a closed political system. The paper opens with a discussion
of the theoretical roots of the project. Particular attention has been paid to J.N. Rosenau's pre-theory of comparative
foreign policy, and works by authors such as R.B. Farrell,
Raymond Aron, and Alexis de Tocqueville on the differences
between open and closed political systems. The hypothesis
we tested was derived from the writings of R.B. Farrell. It
reads:
In a closed polity bureaucrats are less
likely to provide information contradicting the leadership's known positions
than in an open polity.
In the second chapter the method of study, the case
study, is introduced and discussed. Great Britain and
Germany just prior to the First World War were chosen as
examples of an open and a closed system. Their suitability
as cases for this research project is critically analysed.
Data on size, wealth, and political accountability are
presented.
In the third chapter four leaders are identified and
their policy preferences outlined. The four are Edward Grey
in Great Britain, Emperor William II, Chancellor von Bethmann-
Hollweg, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs von Jagow in Germany. The fourth chapter discusses the kinds of
messages which were being sent to these various leaders. We
expected that in the case of Germany the content of these
messages would be less contradictory of the positions of
the above-mentioned German leaders than in the case of
Britain and Sir Edward Grey. The conclusion of the study is that in the particular
eases of pre-War Britain and Germany the hypothesis is not
supported. In the final chapter explanations of why this
might be so are suggested, two new hypotheses are formulated,
and the findings are related briefly to the theory from which
the paper originated. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/41866 |
| Date | January 1970 |
| Creators | Goodall, Robert |
| Publisher | University of British Columbia |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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