Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 1

What are the three key questions to answer?

Answer 1

• Why did Soviet Union place offensive missiles in Cuba?
• Why did the US respond with a naval quarantine?
• Why were the missiles withdrawn?

Question 2

What is the organisational behaviour approach?

Answer 2

• The processes + culture of large organisations make up a complex government
• Standard operating procedures: outcomes as result of following established routine, not calculated choice

Question 3

According to the Organisational Behaviour Approach, why did the Soviet Union place offensive missiles in Cuba?

Answer 3

Missiles were not a rational calculation or bargaining chip

But the result of organisational differences

Question 4

According to the Organisational Behaviour Approach, why did the US respond with a naval quarantine?

Answer 4

Kennedy + his advisors never considered options other than a naval blockade or air strike
Due to organisational differences

Question 5

According to the Organisational Behaviour Approach, why were the missiles withdrawn?

Answer 5

Soviets had no plan for countering US action -> lack of options made withdrawal the best option

Question 6

What is the Bureaucratic Politics Approach?

Answer 6

• Policy outcomes result from bargaining + competition among players
• Affected by personalities, relationships, management styles

Question 7

According to the Bureaucratic Politics Approach, why did the Soviet Union place offensive missiles in Cuba?

Answer 7

Krushchev needed to assert his political dominance and Soviet military dominance

Question 8

According to the Bureaucratic Politics Approach, why did the US respond with a naval quarantine?

Answer 8

• Domestic pressure compelled Kennedy to pursue an aggressive response
• Kennedy hated the primary advocate for an air strike -> Air Force had less influence

Question 9

According to the Bureaucratic Politics Approach, why were the missiles withdrawn?

Answer 9

Krushchev tried to save face by focusing on US missiles in Turkey

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of the Bureaucratic Politics Approach?

Answer 10

• Process not dominated by one individual
• Unlikely to privilege expert or rational decisions
• May result in suboptimal outcomes
• Fail to fulfil objectives of any of participants
• Result in compromises not in best interest of state