Problem Representation in Foreign Policy Decision-Making

by Donald A. Sylvan (Editor), James F. Voss (Editor)

Overview

Previous studies of foreign policy decision making have largely focused on the choice among specified options rather than the prior question of how the options were specified in the first place. Such "problem representation" is the focus of this volume. How do the game theorists' options and utilities come about? The editors contend the representation of the problem to which the options are a response, the determinants of that representation, and its ramifications must all be analyzed. The contributors to the volume consider these issues, employing the methods of both international relations and political psychology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521169578
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/03/2011
Pages:	358
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Part I. Introducing Problem Presentation: 1. Introduction Donald A. Sylvan; 2. On the representation of problems: an informative processing approach to foreign policy decision making James F. Voss; Part II. Overarching Conceptual Issues: 3. The interpretation of foreign policy events: a cognitive process theory Charles S. Taber; 4. Problem identification in sequential policy decision making: the re-representation of problems Robert Billings and Charles F. Hermann; 5. Collective interpretations: how problem representations aggregate in foreign policy groups Ryan Beasley; 6. Image change and problem representation after the Cold War Martha Cottam and Dorcas E. McCoy: Part III. Empirical Analysis: 7. Problem representations and political expertise: evidence from 'think aloud' protocols of South African elite Helen Purkitt; 8. Reasoning and problem representation in foreign policy: groups, individuals, and stories Donald A. Sylvan and Deborah M. Haddad; 9. Representing problem representation Michael Young; 10. A problem solving perspective on decision-making processes and political strategies in committees Katherine Gannon; 11. When gender goes to combat: the impact of representations in collective decision-making Silvana Rubino-Hallman; 12. Representation of the Gulf Crisis as derived from the US Senate debate James F. Voss, Jennifer Wiley, Joel Kennet, Tonya Schooler and Laurie Ney Silfies; 13. Configuring issue areas: Belgian and Dutch representations of the role in foreign assistance in foreign policy Marijke Breuning; Part IV. Conclusion: 14. Reflecting on the study of problem representation: how are we studying it and what are we learning? Donald A. Sylvan.

Editorial Reviews

"This volume is an excellent addition to the more advanced study of foreign policy analysis. Recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above." Choice

From the Publisher