Integrating Cognitive and Rational Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making

by Mintz, Alex

• ISBN13: 9780312294090
• ISBN10: 0312294093
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-18
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

There are two dominant approches to political decision making in general and foreign policy decision making: rational choice and cognitive psychology. These essays introduce and test the poliheuristic theory of decision making that integrates elements of both schools. The poliheuristic theory is able to account for the outcome and the process of decisions, and integrates across levels of analysis (individual, dyad, and group). The collection focuses on both elements of the theory itself and also looks at how the theory can be used to better understand political decisions that have been made in the past.

Author Biography

Alex Mintz is Director of the Foreign Policy Decision Making Program at Texas A&M University.

Table of Contents

Part I: Introduction
Integrating Cognitive and Rational Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making: A Poliheuristic Perspective	1	(10)
Alex Mintz
Part II: Case Studies
The Decision Not to Use Force at Dien Bien Phu: A Poliheuristic Perspective	11	(18)
Karl DeRouen, Jr.
Degrees of Difficulty: The Effect of Israeli Policy Shifts on Syrian Peace Decisions	29	(26)
Allison Astorino-Courtois
Brittani Trusty
``No Other Choice'': Pakistan's Decision To Test the Bomb	55	(22)
Kanishkan Sathasivam
Framing and the Poliheuristic Theory of Decision: The United Fruit Company and the 1954 U.S.-Led Coup in Guatemala	77	(24)
Michelle M. Taylor-Robinson
Steven B. Redd
Part III: Experimental Analysis
The Poliheuristic Theory of Foreign Policy Decision Making: Experimental Evidence	101	(26)
Steven B. Redd
Part IV: Comparisons to Rational Choice and Cybernetic Decision Making
The Rational-Cognitive Debate and Poliheuristic Theory	127	(12)
Vesna Danilovic
The Poliheuristic Theory of Decision and the Cybernetic Theory of Decision: A Comparative Examination	139	(20)
Xinsheng Liu
Part V: Directions for Future Research
Theory Development and Integration in Foreign Policy Analysis: Directions for Future Research	159	(10)
Alex Mintz
Index	169