Varieties of Pragmatism in Foreign Policies of US, China and Singapore

Abstract

Thesis offers a via positiva definition of Pragmatism (problem solving approach, skill, acumen) and posits a Pragmatism in Policy Process framework to illustrate how Pragmatism works from a practitioner perspective, fusing International Relations and Public Policy. Using country cases in the United States, China and Singapore, thesis illustrates the Varieties of Pragmatism a la Varieties of Capitalism: United States practises systemic pragmatism where unpragmatic individual decisions/actions will lead to pragmatic outcomes due to systemic checks and balances); China practises pragmatism with patience, driven by flux of personalities and socio-culture favouring pragmatism; Singapore practises ideology of pragmatism fueled by geographical constraints.