Foreign policy making in multicultural societies

Abstract

Foreign policy determines the external behavior of a state. The debate over multiculturalism and the democratic conduct of foreign policy is a matter that should bring systematically together. Complexities and diversity in social composition should revise significantly the understanding of the balance between the efficiency and accountability in foreign policy making. These factors are crucial as foreign policy is the key determinant of external relationships. Ethnicity and diversity of population build the core -values of the policy formulation. The need of protecting the interest of the society as a whole without either scapegoating an internal minority or giving it special privileges. The paper discusses four aspects in policy formulation whether multiculturalism allows certain domestic groups to have privileged influence on foreign policy, the possibility of incoherence in foreign policy making, the danger of domestic cleavages leading to serious social tension and risk of domestic terrorism. Secondary and primary data through interviews, expert views and literature surveys were used. This study concludes that multiculturalism as an important element in determining foreign policy in Sri Lanka