Includes bibliographical references and index.

The book examines how states adjust their foreign policy over time in response to changing international and domestic conditions. Smith argues that foreign policy is not simply the result of rational, fixed decision-making, but an adaptive process shaped by constraints, pressures, and institutional dynamics.

Using comparative case studies (notably post-war Britain and the Netherlands), he shows that policy change is usually gradual and incremental, rather than sudden or revolutionary. Governments must constantly balance external pressures (such as shifts in the international system or crises) with internal factors like bureaucracy, political leadership, and domestic politics.

Overall, the book is an early contribution to Foreign Policy Analysis, emphasizing that adaptation is often constrained and complex rather than fully controlled by governments.