Non-state actors in foreign policy decision-making: Assessing the impact of civil society organizations on Ghana's foreign policy, 1993-2023

In post-Cold War global politics, new actors, such as civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based organizations, challenge states' historical dominance in foreign policy and international relations. The traditional view that multiparty democracy is incompatible with foreign policy decision-making and scrutiny and that state sovereignty in this arena is the exclusive, unquestionable competence of governments as the perceived sole representatives of the state is becoming increasingly difficult to uphold in democratic societies. By debating various points of view on strategic direction and policy priorities and fostering public trust on complex issues in a way that is understandable to citizens, these non-state actors are increasingly expected to contribute to resolving complex foreign policy and international issues that are having an increasingly direct impact on citizens' lives. This study examines the impact of non-state actors on foreign policy decision-making processes in Ghana's Fourth Republic democratic dispensation. It provides a unique and original data collection organized around a set of assumptions and follows a well-formulated conceptual framework. It is based on primary sources and offers a hitherto unattainable window into the methods of operation of various non-state actors, particularly civil society organizations, and their impact on Ghana's foreign policy outcomes. The dissertation reveals how civil society participates informally but meaningfully in foreign policy decision-making processes through the assumption of diverse operational responsibilities. Given that the main objective of the thesis is to understand how non-state actors influence foreign policy decision-making in a specific geographical environment, the study adopts the area studies approach and draws on theoretical literature from varied but related disciplines such as politics, international relations, and history. This approach is meant to trace the processes of foreign policy formulation over a specific period, explore the diverse interactions of the actors, and analyze their influences to build empirical narratives to explain the process. In the end, this demonstrates a hybrid kind of foreign policy in operation, obscuring the distinction between the deeds of state and non-state actors. The dissertation concludes that states, organizations, and individuals who can harness material capabilities, relationships, and knowledge more quickly, more effectively, and more adaptively than previous generations will be the most potent actors in the future.