How can individuals determine the success of statecraft?
Date
2026
Authors
McNeill-Stowers, H.
Wallis, J.
Peake, G.
Tidwell, A.
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Journal article
Citation
International Politics, 2026; 1-21
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Henrietta McNeill-Stowers, Joanne Wallis, Gordon Peake, Alan Tidwell
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Abstract
This article examines the micro-level dynamics shaping contemporary statecraft in the Pacific Islands region, demonstrating the importance of individuals to the success of statecraft efforts. Existing analyses of statecraft largely privilege macrolevel perspectives that treat states as unitary actors, overlooking the fact that people interact not with abstract policies but with the individuals who enact them. Indeed, relationships, networks, and personalities are central drivers of foreign policy practice. Responding to calls to move beyond single-level analyses, this article uses foreign policy analysis and practice theory to focus on the practitioners implementing statecraft in the Pacific Islands region—diplomats, political leaders, defence and police personnel, and development advisors—and their reception by Pacific leaders and communities. It asks: what factors determine whether statecraft practitioners influence Pacific counterparts, and what determines how Pacific leaders’ respond to statecraft? While acknowledging structural forces such as colonial legacies, geopolitical competition, international institutions, and global capital flows, we identify four micro-level factors as decisive: elite social “bubbles”, prior experience and understanding, the comportment and civility of representatives, and the centrality of relationships. Drawing on memoirs and podcasts from the Pacific Islands region and its partners, we demonstrate that effective statecraft hinges on these interpersonal practices.
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© The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.