Which term refers to the overall plan that uses diplomatic, economic, and military resources to pursue national interests?

• A. Foreign policy
• B. Grand strategy
• C. Realpolitik
• D. Isolationism

Answer: (B)

Grand strategy is the overarching plan that coordinates diplomatic, economic, and military tools to advance a nation's interests. It’s the big-picture framework that guides how all elements of national power work together.

Foreign policy refers to the specific goals and actions a country pursues abroad within that larger framework, not the entire plan itself. Realpolitik describes a practical, power-focused approach to policy decisions, emphasizing what works in power dynamics rather than outlining a coordinated, long-term plan. Isolationism is a stance of avoiding entanglements in international affairs, rather than a comprehensive method for using all tools of state power.

So, the term that best fits describing the overall plan using diplomatic, economic, and military resources to pursue national interests is grand strategy.