Idiosyncrasies in Foreign Policy: A Case Study of Yitzhak Rabin and Menachem Begin, 1974-1995

Abstract

This study examined how individual idiosyncrasies affect the foreign policy of states using Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Menachem Begin as a case study. It explored the personality, backgrounds, and experiences of leaders and the roles they play in determining the type of foreign policy they formulate and pursue while in the office. It is based on the premise that the personal histories and psychological characteristics of political leaders have a huge impact on global politics. While backing up our claims with evidence from works on foreign policy analysis, theoretical ideas were presented that highlight the role that individual decision-makers play in influencing state actions and international relations. For easy understanding, terminologies like idiosyncrasy and foreign policy were defined in the literature review. Through the definition of these terms, the study highlighted the internal aspects that often go unnoticed when determining foreign policy, like a leader’s personality and views. The study used a diachronic comparison approach and historical research methodology to compare their actions and policies. It argued that understanding the character traits of political figures is crucial for predicting and analyzing foreign policy outcomes in the global system. The findings provide empirical proof of the significant influence of individual quirks on international relations, advancing the field of foreign policy analysis.