Conference Program

Whilst foreign policy analysis (FPA) has paid increasing attention to policy change, each episode of change is generally treated as a "snapshot" taken at a particular time. This approach neglects the ways in which, even in periods of acute crisis, earlier policy decisions shape the conditions for change. It can thus be difficult to see why different states respond in different ways to similar challenges. One way to address this weakness is through the concept of policy feedback. While the significance of feedback has been acknowledged within FPA it is generally represented in narrow terms as informational flows. This paper argues that FPA should draw upon the studies of domestic policy development so as to consider the ways in which “policy creates politics” by changing ideas, reconfiguring interest coalitions, and creating institutional structures. We also suggest that recent accounts within historical institutionalism, in particular those that have considered negative feedback and the relative strength or weakness of feedback effects should also be “exported” into studies of foreign policy.

Historically, Brazilian diplomacy has adopted a discourse of continuity in foreign policy. However, more accurate studies of different presidents' foreign policies indicate significant inflections in their behavior. Since democratization, these changes have become even more evident and have been studied more frequently by researchers. The primary instance of changes was Jair Bolsonaro's foreign policy and then the impact of foreign policy on Lula da Silva's return to the presidency. This passage deconstructs both the discourse of continuity in Brazilian foreign policy and the identification made by some analysts of Brazilian foreign policy that it is a state policy. This paper compares the two foreign policies, considering the explanatory factors and the causal mechanisms. Lula da Silva, identified as a progressive president, ascended to the presidency in 2023, after four years of the extreme right in power under Bolsonaro, with a robust discourse based on religious nationalism and anti-globalism. The replacement of Bolsonaro by Lula led to significant changes in Brazil's model of international insertion. The paper works with comparative politics, and, as a source, we have selected articles from major newspapers and, for the first year of Lula's government, opinion pieces by researchers. For Bolsonaro's government, we selected academic works on politics and populism. The research showed that the alternation of government within the framework of a democratic presidential regime brings a strong potential for change in foreign policies, as well as replacing a belief in historical continuity with more recent reflections on changes in foreign policy.

The beginning of Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to political declarations on the need to reform the foreign policy of the European Union (EU). As a crucial actor in the global political arena, the EU has a substantial impact on the political developments in Eastern Europe. In order to comprehend the change in the EU foreign policy, it is analysed through the comparison of the European Commission agenda during Juncker and Leyen Commissions. The research aims to understand the way the Commission and its leadership impact the external action of the EU and the changes of the EU foreign policy towards Ukraine and Russia in the span of two institutional cycles.

This paper focuses Philippines' policy towards China under the leadership of Marcos from 2022, as compared to the Duterte era. The period following recent elections has witnessed a discernible oscillation in the Philippines' China policy, prompting an exploration into the intricate relationship between domestic politics and foreign policy . The research aims to contribute a historical, practical, and theoretical understanding of the Philippines' approach to China. A critical gap identified lies in the limited exploration of the ways and mechanisms through which domestic political factors impact foreign relations. Current research tends to isolate the handling of these factors, failing to comprehensively grasp the complex interactions among diverse domestic political elements that shape foreign policy. While much attention has been devoted to the South China Sea issue, this study seeks to broaden the scope by exploring other facets of Sino-Philippine relations. It also highlights the application of neoclassical realism theory in the challenge of determining which variable factors wield a greater impact at the unit level. This project significantly emphasizes the role of China policy in consolidating presidential power in the Philippines. Additionally, it acknowledges the domestic politicization of international factors, recognizing them as integral components of Philippine domestic politics. The specific focus on 2022 elections and the ensuing changes in Philippine domestic politics vis-à-vis its China policy forms a crucial aspect of the research, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the evolving dynamics in Sino-Philippine relations.

The paper aims to analyze the process of formulating the Foreign Policy of the Italian government during the last decade (2013–2023), which was subject of the significant and multidimensional internal and external turmoil. Started point of analysis was the answer to the question about the nature and factors of prioritisation of the foreign politicy in Italy under government of Giorgia Meloni. The theoretical and metodological framework is based on Foreign Policy Decision-Making approach (FPDM). The research findings allow us to propose explanations why, how, and to what extent the continuation or dyscontinuation of current determination of foreign policy in Italy can be obserwed.