Originally Posted by out of place

Now, you have given me a lot of work...Nonetheless, I will try to respond to your post and this discussion can be of great help to other aspirants too.. But, I will only be able to do so in parts. So here is my answer to your first question i-e Q.4 in CE-2012.

Q. 4. Define “Economics as an instrument in foreign policy" and explain its fundamental characteristics which can help to achieve state's objectives.

At first, in my humble opinion, I think you have dwelt a little too much on the ‘security’ aspect of foreign policy. It could have been and should have been eschewed completely. At least I eschewed it and only stuck to economics. And while doing so, I emphasised its utility as an “instrument” in foreign policy, as the question seems to ask. I discussed some of the economic tools(characteristics) such as trade, aid, loans, sanctions, embargoes, preferential access to markets, et al, to underline how they are used to cajole, prod, reward, punish, threaten and deter. I also gave some examples which, if I can recall correctly,included marshall plan, pressler amendment and sanctions against Iran, among others.

Moreover, I did not go into the minefield of defining state’s objectives. All I did was to first define economics as an instrument and then explain its characteristics that help in achieving the objectives of state.


P.S. Even my marks in I.R are not stellar. Nonetheless, given the low scoring trend, 52 looks good enough.