Integrating Cognitive and Rational Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making

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.

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