Decision-Making in International Relations 2104-L-D3DESM
I. The essence of the decision
a. Praxeological. Projection of The Fog of War document and discussion - what this course is for.
b. Ontologically. Decision (event) or deciding (process) - that is, how to define an object. Man or institution, individual or group - how to define a decision-maker.
c. Epistemological. Strictly or humanistically - that is, the place of the problem of decision making in the spectrum of sciences. Descriptive or prescriptive - that is, whether the function of decision-making theory is to indicate what it is or should be like. Paradigmatic or idiosyncratic - that is, how useful theories of MS science are in explaining and understanding decision-making, and what alternatives are there.
d. Analytically. Structure or agent, micro or macro - that is, with overt and hidden effects of selecting the level of analysis for decision making research. Statistics and models or case studies - i.e. the results of formal, quantitative and qualitative methods in the analysis of decision making.
II. Unit deciding
a. Rational approaches. Nominal features of rational thinking and choice in the rational actor model (RAM). Categories of utility and expected utility and their maximization; bayesism. Application of RAM: game theories - categories of Nash equilibrium, Pareto allocation efficiency; sequential games - theory of movements; strategic interaction (Schiller).
b. Cognitive views. Limited rationality (Simon) - maximization versus satisfaction. Psychology and neurobiology and the decision-making properties of the human body; consistency of judgments, attitude to risk, cognitive complexity and contra-current thinking, memory and analogical thinking (Khong), psychophysical condition and emotions and decision-making abilities. The analysis of individual decisions: the rules of selecting the objects of analysis, content analysis and (de) coding (Hermann, George) and psychobiography (Barber, Post). Heuristics and cognitive errors.
c. Hybrid shots. Cybernetic Theory (Steinbrunner); prediction theory (Tversky, Kahnemann); polyheuristic theory (Minz, Geva).
III. Group decision making
a. Structures of small decision-making groups, the role of a leader and others (e.g. mind guard, devil's advocate, delegate), selected techniques for managing the decision-making process in a small group (e.g. leadership style, group composition, agenda control, problem formatting, manipulation of information). Dynamics of small decision groups - groupthink (Janis) and newgroup (Stern) syndromes, their manifestations and consequences for decision making. A group in crisis decision making. Comparison of the way a small internal, international and supranational group is decided (EU casus).
IV. Institutional decision making
a. Bureaucratic. The role of bureaucracy in making decisions. Institutional Identity: Essentialization, "Homosexual Reproduction" and "Cohort Effects". Properties of vertical decision-making processes from problematization to implementation - inertia, logic of appropriateness and standard operating procedure (SOP). Information flow channels. Inter-bureaucratic rivalry - the so-called turf wars. The decision as a result.
b. Cultural. Understanding culture in the context of decision-making analysis: as a closed system of meanings and as a source of preferences, valuations, heuristics and ready-made decision schemes. Historical, cultural and ideological narratives about one's own international role and decision making. Cultural dimensions (Hofstede) and regularities in a given population in the sphere of decision making. Examples of the influence of cultural idiosyncrasies on the differences in decision-making methods.
c. Internal versus international and supranational. Two-level game (Putnam) and multi-level management (Marx). Multidimensional taxonomies of participants - techniques for scaling their importance for decision making. Role of political parties and pressure groups, media (CNN effect and decision-making), civil society and other internal, international and transnational actors. On the iceberg: official structures and decision-making practice in the European Union - intra- and interinstitutional (Commission procedures, co-decision, comitology).
V. Simulations
Type of course
Course coordinators
Mode
Learning outcomes
In the field of the subject of classes a graduate knows and understands:
K_W01 - the most important facts, phenomena and problems in the field of international relations
K_W02 - methods and theories in an advanced way explaining the processes taking place in international relations
K_W07 - basic economic and social, legal, ethical and other conditions of professional activity related to international relations, including the basic concepts and principles of protection of industrial property and copyright
In the field of the subject of classes a graduate is able to deal with:
K_U01 - correctly interpret political, economic, cultural, military and legal phenomena on a global scale, in selected regions and subregions of the world, as well as at the national level, using the theoretical and empirical knowledge gained during studies, using information and communication techniques
K_U02 - substantively argue, formulate coherent conclusions using the specialized language of international relations science and related disciplines, for the purpose of communication with specialists in the field of discipline, as well as a wider group of recipients
K_U04 - plan and organize individual research work in the field of international relations science and cooperate with other people as part of teamwork on a given problem in the field of international relations
K_U05 - independently plan, pursue your own educational goals, including, for example, making decisions about choosing the appropriate field of study of the second degree
In the field of the subject of classes graduate is ready to:
K_K01- critical assessment of knowledge and content received in the field of study
K_K02 - recognition of the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive problems in the field of international relations and in consulting experts when they are needed to solve a given problem covering the subject of studies
K_K05 - responsible performance of the profession in the field of international relations, including compliance with the principles of professional ethics and care for the traditions of the profession
Assessment criteria
- participation in simulations of the decision-making process
- individual presentation during classes
- activity in class
Practical placement
not applicable
Bibliography
Graham T. Allison – “Essence of decision: explaining the Cuban missile crisis”; Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1971 – PISM II39734; 2nd Edition: London: Longman, 1999
Marijke Breuning – “Foreign Policy Analysis: a comparative introduction.”; New York, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2007 – PISM II90032
Valerie M. Hudson – “Foreign policy analysis: classic and contemporary theory”; Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007 – PISM II87487
Ziemowit J. Pietraś - “Decydowanie polityczne”; Warszawa-Kraków: PWN, 2000
Steve Smith et al (ed.) – “Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases”; New York: Oxford University Press, 2008
Literatura dodatkowa:
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita – “An Expected Utility Theory of International Conflict,” American Political Science Review, 74(4), December 1980 – PISM PII247 http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/437520530889460/lib/437520530889460/Beuno_de_Mesquita_2.pdf
Daniel L. Byman, Kenneth M. Pollack – “Let Us Now Praise Great Men: Bringing the Statesman Back In”, International Security, 25(4), 2001
http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/bymanetalvol25no4.pdf
Walter Carlsnaes – “Handbook of International Relations”; London: Sage, 2003 – PISM III24858
Jerzy Ciechański – “Teorie podejmowania decyzji w polityce zagranicznej”; Polski Przegląd Dyplomatyczny 1/2006
Jacek Czaputowicz – „Teorie stosunków międzynarodowych: krytyka i systematyzacja”; Warszawa: PWN, 2008
Irmtraud N. Gallhofer, Willem E. Saris – “Foreign Policy Decision-Making: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of political argumentation”; Westport: Praeger, 1996 – PISM II82335
Irmtraud N. Gallhofer, Willem E. Saris – “Collective choice processes: a qualitative and quantitative analysis of foreign policy decision-making”; Westport: Praeger, 1996 – PISM II82856
Alexander L. George – “Presidential decision-making in foreign policy: the effective use of information and advice”; Boulder: Westview, 1980 – PISM II57222
Nehemia Geva, Alex Mintz (ed.) – „Decision-making on war and peace: the cognitive-rational debate”; Boulder: Lynn Rienner, 1997 – PISM II84325
Patrick J. Haney – “Organizing for Foreign Policy Crises. Presidents, Advisers and the Management of Decision Making”; Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2002
Paul ‘t Hart, Erik K. Stern, Bengt Sundelius (ed.) – “Beyond groupthink: political group dynamics and foreign policy-making”; Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1997 – PISM II85794
Robert Jervis – “Perception and misperception in international politics”; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1965 – PISM II48058
Yueng Foong Khong – “Analogies at war: Korea, Munich, Dien Bien Phu and the Vietnam Decisions of 1965”; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992 – Google Books
Bahgat Korany – “How foreign policy decisions are made in the Third World: a comparative analysis”; Boulder, London: Westview, 1986 – PISM II85731
Alex Mintz (ed.) – “Integrating cognitive and rational theories of foreign policy decision making”; New York, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002 – PISM II87450
Richard E. Neustadt, Ernest R. May – “Thinking in time: the uses of history for decision makers”; New York & London: The Free Press, 1986 – PISM II85846
Robert D. Putnam – „Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: The Logic of Two-Level Games”; International Organization, 42(3), Summer, 1988 http://hpeb08.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/putnam.pdf
Christian Reus-Smit, Duncan Snidal (ed.) – “The Oxford Handbook of International Relations”; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008 – PISM III25462
Herbert Simon – “Human Nature in Politics: The Dialogue of Psychology with Political Science” American Political Science Review, 79(2), June 1985 – PISM PII247
http://users.polisci.wisc.edu/schatzberg/ps855/Simon1985.pdf
Paweł Soroka – “Teorie podejmowania decyzji w amerykańskiej nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych”; Warszawa: COM SNP, 1987 – PISM II55263
Jonathan B. Stein – “From H-bomb to Star Wars: the politics of strategic decision-making”; Lexington & Toronto: Lexington Books, 1984 – PISM II53989
Stephen G. Walker – “Role theory and foreign policy analysis”; Durham: Duke, 1987 – PISM II85515
Thomas C. Wiegele – “Leaders under stress: a psychophysiological analysis of international crises”; Durham: Duke, 1985 – PISM II85755
Steve A. Yetiv – “Explaining Foreign Policy: U.S. Decision-Making & the Persian Gulf War”; Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: