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Synopsis :

An interview with Professor Joseph Frankel from the University of Southampton in England. He is a specialist in international relations and is concerned with defining   how foreign policies are made. Professor Frankel says that we no longer live within the narrow orbit of a village, town or country. People's jobs depend on trade and trade depends on foreign policy. In the military arena, foreign policy determines whether people go to fight abroad. A key element in formulating foreign policy is national interest. Good foreign policy helps to promote national interest and bad foreign policy jeopardises it. On the connection between foreign policy and cooperation, Professor Frankel feels that today, there are very pronounced trends towards increased international cooperation. Although conflicts persist, nations have, by and large realised the futility of war. Professor Frankel also touches on the usefulness of regional groupings like ASEAN which have promise despite their limitations. Looking at  Singapore, he feels that there is a deliberate attempt here to distinguish between different levels of foreign policy. On one level, Singapore as a small state has absolutely no influence and can only analyse and anticipate future events. On the level of practical foreign policy, Singapore can try to do things and define what it really wants to achieve. The speeches of Singapore's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister show that they they have a clear understanding of what Singapore's national interests are.