The president and foreign policy choice

Abstract

Previous literature that analyzes the domestic factors that affect the timing and occurrence of president's foreign policies focuses primarily on policies of a conflictual nature such as the use of military force. Less is understood about the effects of domestic political variables on the likelihood that the president will engage in foreign policies of a cooperative nature. I theorize that presidential activity in particular matters of foreign policy is strategic and motivated by political benefits the president may accrue, such as reelection, an increase in approval ratings, and improvement in the domestic economy. This study analyzes the effects of the presidential electoral cycle, presidential approval ratings, status of the domestic economy, and budgetary constraint on the likelihood that the president will travel to a foreign nation for a summit meeting, travel abroad for ceremonial or goodwill purposes, give a speech on a matter of cooperative foreign policy, or take a position on foreign policy legislation of a cooperative nature. The findings indicate that domestic factors have little influence on the president's propensity to engage in cooperative foreign policies.