US Grand Strategy Debate/ Decision Making and Foreign Policy Flashcards
(20 cards)
Brooks’ approach
Use IR theories’ arguments to justify why powerful states (like the US) should be constrained
Current situation
- System isn’t constraining Trump
- large economic and military gaps between powerful states (US is more of a global power in both senses than China)
current Grand Strategy debate in US
should US pull back from world (retrenchment) or keep up large influence/involvement (and other states’ dependence) in the world
-> choice between deep engagement and retstraint/offshore balancing
Agreements between both positions
- Allies are generally free riders who explout the US
- US risks entrapment in unwanted conflicts by allies
- US security guarantees do not yield economic benefits
- US allies will step up to contain rivals if US leaves
- nuclear proliferation by allies will not harm US
- US shoudl be ruthlessly self-interested
Objectives of deep engagement Grand Strategy
- enough stability in 3 core regions (Western Europe, Middle East, East Asia)
- promote liberal economic order
- sustain global institutional order to secure necessary interstate cooperation favourable to US
- prevent nuclear proliferation
Deep Engagement Plus
combination of deep engagement objectives with other elements
Costs of Deep Engagement
- free riding
- budgetary costs
- entrapment
- temptation
Temptation
- largest motivation for retrenchment
-> use global power to US’ advantage
Europe’s limitations
- conventional military troops and weapons
- logistical capacity
- training
- nuclear forces
- commands and control
- intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance
- cyberwarfare and defence
- strategic allegiance
overcoming Europe’s limitations
build at least conventional military capacities
-> then US might be convinced to develop
role of a hegemon
- facilitate the sustenance of cooperation
- create institutions
- create focal points to bring actors together
Characteristics of foreign policy decision making
- high stakes
- uncertainty
- substantial risk
Components of foreign policy decision making
- identifying problem
- searching for alternatives
- choosing an alternative
- execute the alternative
-> sequence of decisions on international stage
Models of foreign policy decision making
- Rational Actor Assumption
- Cognitive Actor Assumption
Rational Actor Assumption
- rationality is assumed by major IR theories
- act to minimize losses and maximize profits
- maximize utility
Cognitive Actor Assumption
- response to Rational Actor Assumption
- cognitive models are more realistic
- reflection of human mind in decision making
- considers cost of information gathering, time pressure, ambiguity, misperceptions etc
1. bounded rationality
2. cybernetic model
3. prospect theory
4. poliheuristic theory
Bounded rationality
- decision makers opt for acceptable alternative and not always best option
- bounded rationality is procedural (constrained by outside factors)
Cybernetic model
- uncertainty minimized through information feedback loops
- setting fixed goals as references
- limitation of alternatives and information by filtering, ignoring and narrowing down
Prospect theory
- risk-averse regarding gains
- risk-acceptant regarding losses
- avoiding loss is more important than securing gain
- importance of framing of options
Poliheuristic theory
- attempt to combine cognitive and rational school
- FPDM as two step calculation
1. reduce alternatives through cognitive shortcuts (cognitive)
2. rational processing of remaining alternatives (rational) - domestic politics are crucial
