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From the heart of Austria to the distant shores of New Zealand, coalition governments often lay the groundwork for foreign policy. Nearly 90 percent of postwar governments in Western Europe consist of two or more political parties. Israel, often recognized as the Middle East’s sole consolidated democracy, has never known single-party rule. Even the United Kingdom, renowned for its long history of single-party governance, now operates within the framework of multiparty cabinets. Coalition governments are ubiquitous, yet our understanding of their actions in the realm of foreign affairs remains surprisingly limited.
History reveals that coalitions can sometimes engage in significant international commitments, such as participating in military operations. Conversely, they may delay decisions, dilute their policy positions, or undercommit. What accounts for these variances in behavior?
“Governing Abroad” delves into the enigmatic world of coalition governments to uncover the answer. The author, Oktay, posits that the specific alignment of parties within a government helps explain why some coalitions adopt a more assertive stance in foreign policy than others.
Drawing from a rich body of political science literature on coalitions, legislatures, and voting behavior, the book masterfully combines intricate statistical analyses of foreign policy events from thirty European countries with comprehensive case studies from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Finland.
“Governing Abroad” reinvigorates the role of political parties in the study of foreign policy. It explores how the size of a coalition, the ideological closeness of its governing parties, and their relationship with the parliamentary opposition collectively influence a government’s capacity to act on the international stage.
This groundbreaking work challenges preconceived notions about the limitations and frailties of coalition governments, shedding new light on the conditions that enable them to make decisive moves on the global front. Read more.