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International
Relations-PSC 201
VU
LESSON
30
THE
ROLE OF DECISION MAKING IN INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
What
is Decision Making?
Decision
making implies a conscious choice of
one form of behavior alternative.
Decisions are implied
in
policy
making and in implementation of policy
strategies. Decision making determines a
course of action
which
has important
consequences.
While
the most important decisions
are referred to leaderships at the top,
various cadres of decision
makers
are
needed in all institutional
structures. In IR, decisions
are made concerning foreign
policies which
formulate
directions for socio-economic activities
and defense needs of
individual states.
Types
of IR Decisions
Programmatic
decisions: these
are taken after careful
deliberation of stated goals
and consideration of
alternatives.
Crisis
decisions: these
are decisions taken in times
of grave threat for which
there has been no
preplanning,
with
little luxury of time crisis
decisions can require ad hoc
responses.
Tactical
decisions: these
decisions are derived from
programmatic decisions. Tactical
decisions are subject
to
revision,
revaluation and reversal depending on
outcomes.
Prominent
Approaches to Decision Making
Decisions
taken in IR can be located
within methodological and historical
frameworks. A traditional or
historical
approach to decision making is
essentially descriptive. It focuses on
the external behavior of states
based
on its particular historical, social,
geographic imperatives.
The
traditional approach assumes
that decisions are made by
designated decision makers,
and that the
decision
making process itself influences
decision making alternatives.
The
scientific approach seeks to identify
coherent variables which effect the
decision making process.
The
scientific
approach has identified five
crucial variables in this
regard:
i)
Idiosyncratic
variables: focus on individual
personality characteristics of decision
makers (greatest
importance
in crisis decisions where
little planning and advice
can be accommodated).
ii)
Role
variables: focus on defined
expectations of decision makers
and opinion makers
(diplomats,
politicians,
and media) who influence
their output. Roles are
most important in
programmatic
decisions.
iii)
Bureaucratic
variables: focus on processes
and structures of government institutions
and how they
influence
foreign policy.
iv)
National
variables: geographic location,
size, natural resources, population
characteristic of
individual
nations also influence decisions. For
example, a strategically located
nation must be
assertive
itself or ensure protection of a
bigger power; an insular state
tends to avoid alliances;
and
populist
states tend to be expansionist.
v)
Systematic
variables: external variables like the
prevailing world order,
international regulatory
frameworks,
power balances are also
considered vital in terms of
foreign policy.
Political
parties, pressure groups,
public opinion are
recognized to influence decision making
processes
much
more in democratic than
authoritarian states.
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International
Relations-PSC 201
VU
Relevant
Vocabulary
Alternatives:
other
available options
Idiosyncrasies:
peculiarity
Strategy:
on a carefully
thought plan
Framework:
structure,
outline or context
Vital:
important
or crucial
Authoritarian:
dictatorial
Prevailing:
existing
Suggested
Readings
Students
are advised to read the
following chapters to develop a better understanding
of the various
principals
highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter
8 in `"A Study of International
Relations" by Dr. Sultan
Khan
Internet
Resources
In
addition to reading from the
textbook, please visit the
following web-pages for this
lecture, which
provide
useful and interesting
information:
Decision
making: Individual and Group
Influences on Foreign Policy
http://www.wwnorton.com/web/ir/chapters/ch6/critical-thinking.htm