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What is the scaryest thing in the world? Well, it's a tough
question, but I'd vote for uncertainty. To keep your enemies
in check why not try a random foreign policy?
The set up is simple. Make a list of "bad things" other
countries might do to you. include everything, ranging from
snubbing
you at a dinner party to bombing your tiny nation.
Make a list of "good things" too: like lifting embargos and giving
you statues and such.
Now make two more lists: these are the "bad things" and "good
things" you might do in retribution. Again the range is large:
snubbing, bombing, tariffs ... it's all the same to you.
When a bad thing happens you do a random bad thing in
return, when a good thing happens same deal.
No one will want to do bad things to you because you're
utterly un predictable! Place a tariff on your Kumquats? I don't
think so! You might bomb them-- or maybe you'll just insult
them by slapping them with your diplomatic glove the next
time you see them... there is no way to tell. Soon you will rule
the world.
I call this philosophy: randompolatik
(?) Richard Nixon: Foreign Policy
http://www.pbs.org/.../nixon/nixonfp.html
Mentions the "Madman" policy at the end. [Uncle Nutsy, Jul 17 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004]
Who invented the "madman" policy?
http://hnn.us/articles/17183.html
[mouseposture, Feb 27 2010]
[link]
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'Surrealpolitik'.
I like it. If you get a dirty fork at an Embassy reception, nuke their oil refinery. |
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Massacre 3,000 people and you get to host the Olympic Games. |
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I thought the unpredictability (as enforced by changing legistlature every two years) was what the U.S.S.R. feared most about U.S. policy. |
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[angel] Perhaps I should clairfy: bad actions ==> bad things
happen to you good actions ==> good things happen to
you. |
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In other words, only the degree of the response is
random, not the nature of it. |
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put one or 2 of the good ones on the bad list and vice versa... that way everyone will do everything they can to stay away from you... then you can abolish diplomats all together... |
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Henry Kissinger posited the "madman" approach to international politics, in which a country acts in as insane a manner as possible, in hopes of convincing other nations to give it a great deal of latitude. Richard Nixon considered it a valid tactic under some circumstances (see link), so this idea is somewhat baked. |
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Isn't this what North Korea uses? |
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//what North Korea uses// Nah, there's a difference
between brinksmanship and the "madman" approach,
although they're obviously related. The former is one of
many strategies designed to manipulate your opponent's
model of your own thought processes; the latter's desinged
to prevent him even forming one. Whether Kissinger
originated the "madman" idea is disputed (link). |
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(But [senatorjam] if your point was "No, you will *not* soon
rule the world," then I agree with you.) |
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This only works if the scale of your response is commensurate with any likely threats. I very much doubt that, Andorra say, would be much interested in competing with the USA in a game of 'Foreign Policy Random Response'. |
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<publicly insults hitlers mother in response to intellegence that he is planning on invading poland> |
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Foriegn Policy Random Response, Random Response? [+] |
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