The who and what of foreign policy

Who makes foreign policy, what organizations drive relations between countries, do we as citizens have any say in all of this? Join your intrepid hosts as they talk with Bill Clifford, current Director of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council and former Executive Director of the World Affairs Councils of America, about why foreign policy matters and how you can actually help shape the conduct of the world.

While there is a complex web of actors involved in the creation of foreign policy, it is not shrouded in secrecy all the time. Living in a democracy, public opinion does constrain the actions of the government and can, at times, force the government's hand in making a decision (look at the various examples of hasty retreats from different global conflicts that have not always gone well).

However, going beyond the people and institutions who shape foreign policy, this conversation covers the ways in which norms, policies, and even social media can impact the ways countries interact with each other. By listening to this episode you will come away with a strong sense of who the key players in foreign policy creation are and how this can help you better understand how the world works.