Decision Making Process in Tanzania’s Foreign Policy towards the East African Region: The Role of Julius Kambarage Nyerere

Post colonial African states were characterized by leaders with larger than life personalities that embodied foreign policy. Leadership style therefore influenced the decision making process of any foreign policy objective. The study examines the role of Julius Kambarage Nyerere in the decision making process of Tanzania foreign policy towards the East African region. Primarily, it is a descriptive analysis of individual influence in decision making process of foreign policy. The pragmatic approach Nyerere pursued domestic policies such as, socialism, self reliance, and equality and justice were the driving force behind foreign policy interaction towards Kenya and Uganda. Pursuit of pan-Africanism, nonalignment and anti-colonialism made Tanzanian foreign policy progressive and dynamic within the region. The study also examines Nyerere’s idiosyncratic variable and its impact in the decision making of Tanzania foreign policy to determine constrains and preferences. This study seeks to understand the rationale of the foreign policy outcome, through the conceptualization of individual decision making models and theories including rational actor model, expected utility theory, cybernetic theory and poliheuristic theory. The study analyses the crisis point in the interaction of Tanzania towards the East African region including, Nyerere’s refusal to recognize Uganda government under Idd Amin because of his close friendship with President Milton Obote. The dynamism in that interaction led to closing Tanzania-Kenya border in 1978. The study examines continuity or change of Tanzania foreign policy after Nyerere’s administration. This is to determine his legacy and impact in Tanzania domestic and foreign interaction with her East African neighbors after his administration.