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

• 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