Foreign Policy Failure in the White House [Hardcover]

Charles-Philippe David (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0819190756 | ISBN-13: 978-0819190758

Through a close inspection of empirical evidence, the authors wish to show how high-level policymakers are beset by complex decision-making tasks that the rational and systemic perspective fails entirely to take into account. This book focuses on the contributions of both cognitive psychology and the analysis of bureaucratic politics to the understanding of foreign policy decisions made by individuals, small groups, and large organizations. Two recent events are investigated: the fall of the Shah of Iran (1979), and the Iran-Contra affair (1986). This work offers new evidence through a detailed examination of primary sources, particularly internal government documents, messages, and reports newly declassified by the National Security Archive in Washington. Most of this material has not been accessible to previous writers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For those seeking a painless introduction to the literature on the application of theories of cognitive psychology and bureaucratic politics to foreign policy makine, this slim volume will be welcome indeed. It should interest historians from many fields, but the authors clearly have their eyes on historians of American foreign relations (and their students)....What makes this work so attractive is the clarity of the writing and the absence of jargon.>>> (David A. Welch The Journal Of American History )

...a welcomed effort...its goal is admirable. We can only hope that this short book represents the beginning rather than the end of a reseach programme.>>>> (David A. Welch )

...a welcomed effort...its goal is admirable. We can only hope that this short book represents the beginning rather than the end of a reseach programme. (David A. Welch )

For those seeking a painless introduction to the literature on the application of theories of cognitive psychology and bureaucratic politics to foreign policy makine, this slim volume will be welcome indeed. It should interest historians from many fields, but the authors clearly have their eyes on historians of American foreign relations (and their students)....What makes this work so attractive is the clarity of the writing and the absence of jargon. (David A. Welch The Journal Of American History )

About the Author

Charles-Philippe David is Associate Professor at College Militaire Royal de St-Jean in Quebec.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of America (July 9, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819190756
• ISBN-13: 978-0819190758
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,143,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars timely reminder of failures, October 22, 2005

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Foreign Policy Failure in the White House (Paperback)

In the current US political environment, whatever your feelings about the Bush Administration's foreign policies, you might want to take a time out and have a gander at this little book. Its authors look at what they regard as two foreign policy failures in recent years. The fall of the Shah of Iran, while Carter was President, and the Iran-Contra affair under Reagan.

They discuss cognitive and bureaucratic dysfunctions in the two administrations. A common occurrence was groupthink, and the lack of a strong devil's advocate willing and able to speak against it. The latter often included the natural tendency to interpret events optimistically.

With US troops battling insurgents in Iraq, the book is very timely. Plus, given the recent Hurricane Katrina fiasco, the analysis might even be pungently extended to US domestic matters.