Theoretical frameworks are important because they help leaders make decisions about international policies. They act like glasses that let policymakers see and understand world events. Let’s look at three main frameworks: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism.

1. Realism

• Focus on Power: Realism believes that a country's security and power are the most important. Leaders who think this way often see international affairs as a competition where each country looks out for itself.
• Alliances and Military Power: Decisions can be about forming partnerships or building up military strength to protect against threats. For example, during the Cold War, countries created alliances like NATO because they believed in realist ideas.

2. Liberalism

• Working Together: On the other hand, Liberalism focuses on cooperation, trade, and the importance of international organizations. Leaders influenced by Liberalism usually prefer talking things out and believe in working with global groups.
• Supporting Human Rights: This framework leads to policies that support human rights and democracy. For example, interventions in places like Kosovo and Libya were not just about national security but also about helping people.

3. Constructivism

• Importance of Ideas: Constructivism shows that social norms, identities, and beliefs matter in shaping behavior. It suggests that the stories and backgrounds of countries and their leaders affect their policies.
• Changing Views: A great example is how U.S. policy towards Cuba changed over time. The way people talked about normalizing relations versus isolating Cuba shows how ideas and understanding can change approaches to diplomacy.

Conclusion

In reality, many policymakers mix these frameworks together. They take parts from all three to create effective strategies. How these ideas affect decisions depends on the political situation, history, and the beliefs of leaders. Recognizing these frameworks helps us understand why countries respond differently in similar situations and can help us guess what might happen in future diplomatic actions.