BLOG #4

BLOG#4

“Neither a purely domestic nor a purely international analysis could account for this episode. Interpretations cast in terms either of domestic causes and international effects ("Second Image) or of international causes and domestic effects ("Second Image Reversed") would represent merely “partial equilibrium" analyses and would miss an important part of the story, namely, how the domestic politics of several countries became entangled via an international negotiation.” (Putnam; 1988)

This quote is referring to the Bonn Summit conference of 1978. The reasoning behind this quote illustrate the continuous and growing phenomenon of domestic policy and the management of international relations and how that interchange creates a game that has to become both beneficial for the constituents of a country and the also foreign actors in these case of economic policies. This game with the growth of protectionist policies, interference of international factors, cultural and social characteristics all impact the development of this two level game. When evaluating domestic and international economic policy Putnam mentions that many factors influence and determine the mobility and flexibility of effectuating those policies in a way that open the economy to international markets (when that’s the push) but also maintain the sovereignty of a state and basically hearing the needs of the people. As its mentioned in the lecture that Hiscox also sees the power the government play in the national playground because its institutions help shape the discourse by determining economic policies that the state will implement. The domestic forces of foreign economic policy are heavily influence also by factors outside the economic arena that range from technology to cultural aspects; demands that those in public office must answer but keeping in mind the needs of the international community because under this current system not participating in it can sometimes prove detrimental to the economic and even political stability of the state.

Domestic politics and international relations interconnect each other in a very interesting and challenging way because it’s not just a matter of political maneuvers but it also speaks to the power, and sovereignty not necessarily of those in power but of the state as a whole. Finding the balance is a real challenge. From the perspective of the United States today this idea makes a lot of sense because the revival of protectionist policy saw a triumph with the election of Donald Trump, however, since the last midterm elections the U.S. Congress is more diverse and open not necessarily to free trade but to battle this president on anything so finding the common ground between international economic policy and maintaining the needs of the constituents have proven to be a difficult situation for U.S. politicians. As the quote brings out, in one hand you have domestic causes which create international effects and vice-versa, one affects the other and increasing swift of interdependency and globalization increases the risks of the game.