Foreign policy refers a policy that is used by a government while dealing with other states. This policy is designed to accomplish government objectives. Herrmann proposes the following personality characteristics as necessary in assessing the foreign policy orientation of a leader. These include beliefs, motives, decision style and interpersonal style often divided into two, paranoia and Machiavellianism.
President Obama’s foreign policy orientation include, rescue missions involving hostages, targeted captures as well as killings in different states. He issues orders on how such missions are to be conducted through the Defense Department. This trait is portrayed in the decision style which involves various techniques of making a decision depending on the available new data, affinity to certain levels of risk as well as perseverance to ambiguity. This trait also applies to his policy dynamism on the opening to Cuba as well as the Iran nuclear negotiations to stop it from making a nuclear weapon where the President used his usual method for decision making.
The next foreign policy involves tackling climate change by establishing climate deals with China and trade treaties with countries so as to benefit from such treaties. The trait in this section is motive, the strategies used lead to a win- win situation to keep United States on the upper hand. Through the responsibility of ending Iraq war, Machiavellianism trait is imitated by the President where manipulative behaviors such as hard influence tactics are used in case of resistance, this can also be used to show belief as he has an assumption that the war can end. Paranoia is exercised through the urgency to conclude Afghanistan mission. This is because the mission is surrounded by excessive suspicion from opposition and can be used as a weakness towards the government.
In 2006, Obama talked of the mix of policies that could be used to develop a continuous free market and economic security as well as promoting innovation in business. He later signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 briefly after being elected into office. It included funds set aside for infrastructure, funding for states as well as reduction in taxes. In this development he portrays motives. Motives have an impact on a political leader’s understanding of their surrounding as well as the strategies they apply. This move enabled him to get re-elected for a second term.
On each of the six personality characteristics, Barack Obama falls on all of them. He holds various assumptions about the world and efficiently interprets his strategies this is evident in his attempts to destroy al-Qaeda through killing of their leader Osama bin Laden, he as well has motives that indicate power and affiliation through his view of the surrounding environment as well as the applicability of different strategies such as the move to work with other state so as to hinder Iran from making nuclear weapons as well as ending the Iraq war and dealing with climatic changes. His decision style is unquestionable and is said to be as bold and resolute. During decision making process he is open to new information and has a liking towards specific risk levels. He has desirable interpersonal skills that are evident through the way he deals with opposition (McGregor 2012).
Barack Obama has a participatory approach to foreign policy. During the prevention of Iran from producing nuclear weapons, he stated his intentions of working with allies and former enemies. In his fight against terrorism he outlines the strength in the American spirit and in association with fellow leaders he is certain of victory against terrorism. He also introduces a plan of action to Muslim world through interdependent respect as well as common interests. In addition, he shows willingness to work with other leaders as well as citizens to curb corruption and power wrangles caused by lies.
Participatory approach to foreign policy entails foreign policy characters that lay emphasis on working together with other governments through style and contextual framework. The approach consists of conciliatory traits exhibited by political leaders. Independent approach involves foreign policy characters that signify forceful independent foreign policy in methods and context. They arise from aggressive traits of political leaders. Though his term in office is almost ending, his plans for the state’s future foreign policy directions include aggressive response to the Ebola epidemic that killed dozens of people and the destruction of ISIS, a terrorists group in the Middle East.
In his personality type, he puzzles a number of people despite his tenure disappointing a number of people. His personality type has been typed as ENFJ, extrovert, intuitive, feeling and judgmental, a born leader who is passionate and charismatic (Myers, McCaulley p.52). He is an excellent communicator and an effective listener the traits he applies in belief while analyzing his environment and strategies to use. During his campaign he developed the slogan “yes we can!” to promote his campaign hence instilling in people the belief that together we can make it. He walks his talk and is genuinely caring with an urge to unite and motivate people. He is accountable for his own actions and lives by his decisions as well as makes decisions for the state and gets things done. This was marked by his decision to increase troops in Iraq hence the decision style personality trait.
Through extraversion he is able to focus attention on certain matters. This trait grants him motive since he can interpret his environment and form strategies. This is evident through his future plans on Ebola as well as ISIS. He has the ability to make the right decision as well as that to empathize with others through feeling therefore regarded as having interpersonal skills. He is quoted for saying, “In the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.”
In conclusion personality characteristics are necessary for effective leadership in society. Such characteristics should be used to evaluate leaders to avoid electing incompetent leaders. They should also be used to enable individuals know what to expect of their leaders with regards to foreign policy.
Reference
Myers, Isabel, B., McCaulley, Mary, H. Manual: A Guide to the Development and Use of the Myers- Briggs Type Indicator (2nd Ed). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologist Press. 1985.
McGregor, Jena. Great Leadership Profiles of Barack Obama. The Washington Post 18 October 2002. Print.
