Dear Educator,
When your students think of foreign policy, they might think of people in suits shaking hands. |
And they wouldn’t be wrong; that is part of foreign policy. How countries communicate with one another to advocate for their national interests around the world, from high-level interactions between country leaders to the day-to-day operation of an embassy, is the definition of diplomacy. But there is way more to foreign policy than handshakes.
Policymakers have many tools in their foreign policy arsenal that allow them to influence one another in order to protect and advance their national interests and values.
Foreign policy is happening all around us. This newsletter highlights headlines that showcase some of the ways the following foreign policy tools are used around the world today:
Happy learning,
Caroline Netchvolodoff Vice President, Education
Council on Foreign Relations |
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The foreign policy tools that policymakers have to choose from generally fall into three broad categories: political, economic, and military. Each tool has its advantages and disadvantages. The trick to foreign policy-making is figuring out how to manage those tradeoffs by selecting the best combination of tools for any given situation.
Before diving into specific examples, share these two videos to provide your students with some background on the tools foreign policymakers have at their disposal and how they select foreign policy tools to address a variety of situations.
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Last week, the European Union, the U.K., and Canada worked on an agreement to provide loans to help Ukraine purchase weapons and bolster its broader economy. These loans would partly come from Russian funds, currently frozen by sanctions imposed by this group and other allies.
This tool of foreign policy is economic statecraft, which takes many forms. Sanctions are a good example of the many ways economic statecraft can be used to pressure or punish countries that violate international norms, while loans are an example of how economic statecraft can be used to improve diplomatic relations or advance a foreign policy agenda.
Use this resource to help your students better understand this tool of foreign policy. |
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Companion simulation: Ask students to role-play the NSC to decide if the United States should provide foreign assistance to a hypothetical nation and whether conditions should be placed on that assistance. Try the simulation. |
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Companion simulation: Put students in the shoes of decision makers as they consider how to credibly deter an attack while safeguarding against any actions that could provoke one. Try the simulation. |
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Is there a connection between a Labubu and foreign policy? Your students might be excited to learn the answer: yes!
Pop Mart, the China-based retailer of Labubus, has seen revenue grow 204 percent this year compared to the year before. Revenue in the Americas market (primarily the US) rose more than 1,100 percent to $315 million in the first half of 2025. In fact, the number of physical Pop Mart stores in the Americas has also almost doubled to 41, making it the company’s fastest-growing region.
This is a clear shift from the past, when the Western toy brands had a monopoly on American markets. As you have seen in the hallways of your schools, having a Labubu has become a status symbol. Perhaps not a coincidence, studies have found that young Americans' negative views of China have softened in recent years.
This is soft power at work. Soft power is a tool of foreign policy defined as a country’s ability to influence others without resorting to coercive pressure. Learn more about soft power and its history during times like the Cold War. |
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Companion simulation: Ask your students to get creative and help the president determine ways to bolster pro-American sentiment abroad by considering three policy options. Try the simulation. |
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Register for a Higher Education Webinar
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In an era of rising polarization and global interdependence, higher education has a unique responsibility to equip students with the skills to understand, engage, and lead across divides.
This session, hosted in partnership with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), will explore how global affairs literacy can strengthen civic engagement and foster inclusive, democratic classrooms and campuses. |
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Council on Foreign Relations. All rights reserved. |
58 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065 1777 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 |
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