
Foreign Policy Analysis
Classic and Contemporary Theory
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
4th Edition
Will be published approx. on 23. July 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
979-8-8818-0727-6 (ISBN)
Description
The go-to text for understanding both the historical development and contemporary contours of foreign policy analysis.
This comprehensive introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) is geared toward advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Cogently written, clearly organized, and filled with illuminating examples, the fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated. Beginning with an overview of this broad field of study, Hudson and Day consider theory and research at multiple levels of analysis, including personality and psychology of foreign policy decision makers, small group dynamics, the organizational process, bureaucratic politics, domestic politics, cultural and societal influences, national attributes, and system-level effects on foreign policy. The authors also examine the promise and frustration of theoretical integration in FPA and overview promising new work by non-North American scholars.
This comprehensive introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) is geared toward advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Cogently written, clearly organized, and filled with illuminating examples, the fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated. Beginning with an overview of this broad field of study, Hudson and Day consider theory and research at multiple levels of analysis, including personality and psychology of foreign policy decision makers, small group dynamics, the organizational process, bureaucratic politics, domestic politics, cultural and societal influences, national attributes, and system-level effects on foreign policy. The authors also examine the promise and frustration of theoretical integration in FPA and overview promising new work by non-North American scholars.
Reviews / Votes
"Foreign Policy Analysis continues to be the definitive book for making foreign policy decision-making comprehensible to the novice while also providing a manual for the would-be researcher and scholar. This is a must-read book for students (as well as interested foreign policy observers) to help them build their own conceptual models of how foreign policy occurs. The book offers insight into a variety of distinct approaches while also allowing for pluralistic integration for those who want to borrow from or combine multiple approaches. My students have benefited, and will continue to benefit, from Foreign Policy Analysis as the cornerstone of their foreign policy education." * Michael Allen, Professor of Political Science and author of The Gamer's Guide to International Relations, Boise State University, USA * "This is a readable and rich book. It offers concise but nuanced engagement with a wide range of conceptual debates and offers a breadth of historical and contemporary empirical illustrations and detailed cases. Students will find it accessible and valuable as they explore the complexities of foreign policymaking across national cases." * Aarie Glas, Associate Professor of Political Science, Northern Illinois University, USA * "Hudson and Day offer a highly valuable text for the student of foreign policy that is looking for a comprehensive examination of the theoretical explanations of the foreign policy process. The strength of the book is that each chapter highlights the 'state-of-the-art' in the scholarly literature, while at the same time offering examples and case studies that drive home the benefit of these approaches to the study of foreign policy." * David Mitchell, Associate Professor of Political Science, Bucknell University, USA * "The new edition of Foreign Policy Analysis is an indispensable primer for understanding and teaching the origins of foreign policy behavior. It lucidly surveys disparate theories at every level of analysis, weaving them together in a thoughtful and accessible way for scholars, students, and practitioners." * Colin Kahl, Professor of Political Science, Standford University, USA * "Hudson and Day's Foreign Policy Analysis integrates a wide variety of theoretical approaches into a coherent approach to the study of foreign policy. As such, it is helpful to students new to the field and those engaged in advanced studies. This new edition includes insights from the most recent literature and explores concepts with more current case studies. It should be required reading for any who seek to understand foreign policy." * Brian Dille, Arizona State University, USA *More details
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
16 b/w illustrations; 6 tables
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-8818-0727-6 (9798881807276)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2026
4th Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€39.99
Available for download

E-Book
05/2026
4th Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€39.99
Available for download
Persons
Valerie M. Hudson is professor and George H. W. Bush Chair at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
Benjamin S. Day is associate lecturer in the department of International Relations, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.
Benjamin S. Day is associate lecturer in the department of International Relations, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University.
Content
PART I. Overview and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis
1. Introduction: The Situation and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis: A Road Map
PART II. Levels of Analysis
2. The Individual Decisionmaker: The Political Psychology of World Leaders
3. Group Decisionmaking: Small Group Dynamics, Organizational Process, and Bureaucratic Politics
4. Culture and National Identity
5. Domestic Politics and Opposition
6. The Levels of National Attributes and International System: Effects on Foreign Policy
PART III. Putting It All Together, or Not
7. Theoretical Integration in Foreign Policy Analysis
8. The Future of Foreign Policy Analysis
1. Introduction: The Situation and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis: A Road Map
PART II. Levels of Analysis
2. The Individual Decisionmaker: The Political Psychology of World Leaders
3. Group Decisionmaking: Small Group Dynamics, Organizational Process, and Bureaucratic Politics
4. Culture and National Identity
5. Domestic Politics and Opposition
6. The Levels of National Attributes and International System: Effects on Foreign Policy
PART III. Putting It All Together, or Not
7. Theoretical Integration in Foreign Policy Analysis
8. The Future of Foreign Policy Analysis