Foreign policy decision making: an analysis of three United States policy decisions towards Saudi Arabia

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6878117

Alexander, P K

This dissertation attempts to assess the validity of decision-making theory as an approach to understanding and explaining international relations. The study examines the works of eight major decision-making theorists. Although their theories approach decision-making from several perspectives, they lack consensus about how decisions are made. Some theorists focus on bureaucratic imperatives, others on individual psychological motivations, while still others emphasize the political bargains that are struck among political elites. The undue focus on crises has of necessity directed the theorist to examine decisions during relatively short time spans, and to overestimate the role political elites play in non-crisis situations. The Saudi case represents a more routine situation that occurred over a longer period of time. Moreover, it identifies areas the theorists underemphasize, yet were critical in this case: (1) there was an active role of interest groups, particularly oil companies, in the formation of US policy; (2) decisions were often made by middle and low-level bureaucrats and not the political elite; and (3) implementation of a decision was affected by the actions of the US Congress, Britain, and Saudi Arabia.

• Research Organization: Tufts Univ., Medford, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6878117
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
ASIA
DECISION MAKING
FOREIGN POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTEREST GROUPS
NORTH AMERICA
POLITICAL ASPECTS
SAUDI ARABIA
USA