Allison and the Cuban Missile Crisis: A Review of the Bureaucratic Politics Model of Foreign Policy Decision-Making

Key theories of foreign policymaking include: the rational actor model, prospect theory, poliheuristic theory, cybernetic theory, bureaucratic politics, and organizational politics; and, at the group level, groupthink, polythink, and con-div. These theories are based on unique decision rules, including maximizing, satisficing, elimination by aspect, lexicographic, etc. A new, two-group model of foreign policy decision-making includes a decision design group and a decision approval group.

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The Relevance of International Law for Foreign Policy Decision-making When National Security Is at Stake: Lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis

Chinese Journal of International Law ◽

10.1093/oxfordjournals.cjilaw.a000507 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 163-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. V. Scott ◽

R. Withana

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Foreign Policy ◽

National Security ◽

International Law ◽

Policy Decision ◽

Cuban Missile Crisis ◽

Policy Decision Making

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The Intersection of War and Politics

Armed Forces & Society ◽

10.1177/0095327x11415492 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 413-437 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kevin P. Marsh

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Foreign Policy ◽

Explanatory Power ◽

Bush Administration ◽

Policy Decision ◽

Bureaucratic Politics ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Military Doctrine ◽

Policy Decision Making ◽

Further Development

This study examines the decision-making process of the George W. Bush administration which led to the decision in late 2006 to order the Iraq troop surge. The study analyzes whether the bureaucratic politics model of foreign policy decision making can accurately explain the events of the case. The study seeks to further test the explanatory power and descriptive accuracy of the bureaucratic politics model, while also attaining a more textured, academic understanding of the decision-making process leading to the Iraq troop surge. The decision to order the troop surge in Iraq is one of the more important decisions in post-9/11 U.S. foreign policy and continues to impact U.S. strategy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and overall military doctrine. Finally, the author endeavors to contribute to the further development and refinement of the bureaucratic politics model of foreign policy decision making.

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Bureaucratic Politics and Foreign Policy Decision-making in Nigeria

Nigerian Foreign Policy ◽

10.1007/978-1-349-06301-7_5 ◽

1983 ◽

pp. 77-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olajide Aluko

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Foreign Policy ◽

Policy Decision ◽

Bureaucratic Politics ◽

Policy Decision Making

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Foreign Policy Decision-Making in Nigeria. By Ufot B. Inamete. Selinsgrove, PA: Susquehanna University Press, 2001. 313p. $48.50.

American Political Science Review ◽

10.1017/s0003055402260475 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 882-883

Author(s):

Michael Anda

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Foreign Policy ◽

Process Model ◽

Policy Decision ◽

Organizational Structures ◽

Bureaucratic Politics ◽

Actor Model ◽

Foreign Policies ◽

Policy Decision Making ◽

Independent Country

This elaborate study analyzes the Nigerian foreign policy decision-making structures and processes from 1960 (when Nigeria became an independent country) until 1999. Using Graham Allison's conceptual models of decision making (the rational-actor model, the organizational process model, and the bureaucratic politics model), Ufot Inamete examines how foreign policy decision making during the Balewa, Ironsi, Gowon, Muhammed/Obasanjo, Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Shonekan, Abacha, Abubakar, and Obasanjo governments manifested both changes and continuities (p. 289). Importantly, theory from Allison's model is well integrated with the substantive and analytical portions of the book, and, thus, it goes beyond the theory of a strong-leader approach in Third World countries to demonstrate that developing countries do have organizational structures that deal with foreign policies.

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