Graham Allison’s models
• Rational Actor model-foreign policy is a
rational choice-best alternative
• Organizational processes model-foreign
policy is an output that meets organizational
goals
• Bureaucratic politics model-foreign policy
is a result of bargaining between different
players
Organizational processes
• No internal consensus on organization goals
• Uncertainty avoidance
• Problematic search-organizations use
acceptable level of goals
• Organizational learning
Rational Choice models
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Soviet installation of missiles
American choice of naval blockade
Soviet withdrawal
Are strategic choices-with the aim of value
maximizing for the players
Organizational processes
• Choices are by products of basic
organizational processes
• Constraints in choices
• Routines in implementation
• The puzzle is what outputs of which
organizations led to the final choices.
Model I questions
• What is the problem
• What are the alternatives
• What are the strategic costs and benefits of
each alternative
• What is the observed pattern of national
values
• What are the pressures in the international
strategic marketplace
Model II questions
• Of which organizations does the gov.consist
• Which organizations traditionally act on a
problem of this sort
• What programs, repertoires do these
organizations have for making information
available
• What are the programs available in these
organizations for implementing decisions
Model III questions
• What are the existing channels for
producing action
• Which players in what positions are
centrally involved
• How do pressures of job, past and
personality affect central players
• What are the deadlines
• Where are the followups