What Is a Foreign Affairs Analyst?

According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, the majority of Americans, regardless of their age or political affiliation, believe it’s important that the United States be respected around the world . The same survey found that about 80% of Americans want the U.S. to help developing nations through the donation of medicine, medical supplies, food, and clothing.

Because of the sheer size of its economy, its military prowess, and its political gravitas, the United States is involved in most of the important global processes currently underway. This puts our country at the forefront of international relations. Therefore, many governmental functions and business interests are outward-oriented and involve daily interactions with our partners, competitive rivals, and international organizations.

The image and presence of the United States abroad are largely shaped by the country’s foreign policy, which is often created by policymakers and revised based on the work of foreign affairs analysts, who are its conduits. By earning a bachelor’s degree in security studies , individuals can prepare to help advance the country’s national interests worldwide.

What Is Foreign Policy?

A country’s foreign policy encompasses all of the strategies that guide the building, maintaining, and changing of its relationships with other countries and international organizations. Global issues can affect these relationships and can influence the development and alteration of a nation’s foreign policy. A country’s domestic issues can also impact its foreign policy, which is why those who influence foreign policy, such as foreign affairs analysts, need to have a deep understanding of all the factors that affect international relations.

The United States’ foreign policy generally focuses on promoting four central pillars : security, prosperity, democracy, and development in the U.S. and throughout the world.

What Does a Foreign Affairs Analyst Do?

Foreign policy is a type of public policy, and a foreign affairs analyst is a type of policy analyst . Foreign affairs analysts research issues related to the nation’s international relations and specific foreign countries’ actions and pull insights from their findings that can be used to create and revise policies in collaboration with stakeholders, such as policymakers. They also analyze current and proposed foreign affairs policies to determine their impacts and effectiveness.

Public policy encompasses everything that the government does or decides not to do to address an issue. As such, public policy is a broad field, which is why many policy analysts specialize in a specific subset of public policy, such as foreign policy.

Foreign affairs analysts often work in government offices. In the U.S., they may be found in the Department of State, Department of Defense, or congressional offices. Sometimes, they can work over sector-specific tasks, such as under the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security, and so on.

Outside of government agencies, where foreign policy analysts may work directly with policymakers or lawmakers, such specialists can be involved in policy institutes, think tanks, and other nonprofits related to foreign policy.

The day-to-day duties of foreign affairs analysts vary by their workplace and specialization, but their responsibilities often include:

• Conducting research on foreign policy, international security, and international relations

• Analyzing and synthesizing data and applying data to policy development

• Drafting content that shares research findings and policy proposals

• Collaborating with partner organizations on policy development, implementation, and optimization

• Sharing research findings with government officials, other members of the foreign policy community, and the public

• Preparing policy briefs for institutional stakeholders

How to Become a Foreign Affairs Analyst

The requirements for foreign affairs analyst roles generally vary by employer. However, a background in international relations, political science, or international security can help candidates stand out, particularly if they’re looking for a role as a foreign affairs analyst within the U.S. government.

Education and Experience

To become a policy analyst, candidates typically need a bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, international relations, or a field directly related to their policy specialization.

Prospective foreign affairs analysts may benefit from earning a degree in one of the above disciplines or a degree in security studies or international security, as security is a core tenet of the foreign policy that foreign affairs analysts study and shape. Some employers also prefer candidates to have a postgraduate degree, such as a master’s degree in international affairs, public administration, or public policy. Fluency in another language is definitely an added value in a foreign policy analyst job application.

At the U.S. Department of State, the requirements for those seeking a foreign affairs role include at least one of the following:

• At least 24 semester hours of international law, international relations, political science, or related fields; or 12 semester hours of one of these and 12 semester hours in statistics-related courses

• At least 24 semester hours of appropriate courses and additional education or experience

• At least four years of appropriate experience in international law, international relations, political science, or related fields, while in a role associated with foreign affairs

Necessary Skills

To be successful as a foreign affairs analyst, individuals need skills in areas that include:

• Critical Thinking: The ability to create practical, realistic solutions that can be applied to foreign policy

• Cultural Adaptability: The ability to create foreign policies that are adaptable across a wide range of cultures and backgrounds

• Information Analysis: The ability to synthesize and analyze all available information to recognize trends and patterns and draw relevant conclusions

• Objectivity: The ability to present facts and data without interjecting bias

• Organization: The ability to work with complex systems and a substantial amount of data

Salary and Job Outlook for Foreign Affairs Analysts

Foreign affairs analysts are under the category of political scientists by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Political scientists have a median annual salary of $139,380, according to the BLS’s 2024 data.

The BLS projects that the employment growth rate for social scientists between 2024 and 2034 will be 4 percent, which is on par with the national average.

Become a Foreign Affairs Analyst With ECU®

Foreign affairs analysts help shape the way our country interacts with the world. Our nation’s foreign policy impacts the way we’re viewed around the world, who our allies are, and how we help other countries. Foreign affairs analysts need to have knowledge of public policy and other aspects of foreign policy, as well as expertise in international security, as it is one of the core pillars promoted by U.S. foreign policy.

The online Bachelor of Science in Security Studies program from East Carolina University, taught by academic experts in various aspects of U.S. foreign policy, provides students with the skills needed to address security risks both in the U.S. and abroad.

In roles in areas that range from homeland security to foreign affairs, graduates of this program work each day to help coordinate comprehensive security solutions at the international, national, state, and local levels. Their work keeps the U.S. not only safe but also always advancing.

Learn how to help protect U.S. interests abroad with a degree from ECU.

Recommended Readings

4 International Security Careers to Consider

Understanding the Role of a Foreign Service Officer

5 Law Enforcement Careers for Security Studies Graduates

Sources:

Fiveable, Theories of International Relations

Indeed, “How to Become a Policy Analyst (Plus Salary and Skills)”

National Museum of American Diplomacy, What Is Foreign Policy?

Pew Research Center, “Majorities of Americans Support Several—but Not All—Types of Foreign Aid”

Public Affairs Council, Foreign Policy Analyst/Research Fellow

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Political Scientists

U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Foreign Affairs Series 0130