GOVT316 - Decision Making and International Security

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Academic Year 2002/2003

Decision Making and International Security
GOVT 316 FA

Clusters:

Southern Asia and Indian Ocean

In this analysis of responses to threats to security in international and domestic politics, the focus is on decisions to use military force or to respond to the use of force, often in crisis situations. The course employs a case approach that involves intensive class discussion. We will discuss psychological factors (e.g., the role of misperceptions, belief systems, or cognitive structures) in decision making, the effects of historical analogies, the impact of domestic politics (or internal interests) and of the international system, and, in general, the adequacy of rational-actor models. This course, however, differs from conventional approaches to foreign policy decision making by including nongovernmental actors, integrating domestic and foreign policy issues, and extending the scope of the analysis to governments other than the American.

MAJOR READINGS

Yuen Khong, ANALOGIES AT WAR
Allen S. Whiting, CHINA CROSSES THE YALU
Deborah Larson, ORIGINS OF CONTAINMENT
Jack Snyder, THE IDEOLOGY OF THE OFFENSIVE
Barbara Farnham, ed., AVOIDING LOSSES/TAKING RISKS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Class participation, several papers, final take-home exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students who have not taken the prerequisites may speak to the instructor about an over-ride.
"Students who wish to be eligible to register for the course during Drop/Add should place themselves on the wait list during on-line registration. Wait list preference rankings will be one factor I will consider in making Drop/Add period registration decisions."

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: GOVT155 OR GOVT311

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Crenshaw,Martha

Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: PAC421

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 25)

SR. major: 10 Jr. major: 10

SR. non-major: 5 Jr. non-major: SO: X FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing, Focused Inquiry Course

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003