The Dynamics of Foreign Policy Analysis - The Carter Administration and the Neutron Bomb

136 Pages Indexed. Tight book with no defects noted. Interior pages are flawless. This book originated from the dissatisfaction with existing explanations of a bizarre and damaging policy fiasco in the Carter administration, and a growing unease with the theories that foreign policy analysts use to describe and explain how foreign policy decisions are made. The few previous studies of the neutron bomb episode missed important pieces of the puzzle and underestimated the consequences of policy failure for the remainder of Carter's term in office. Using interviews and declassified administration documents, the author constructed an account that is more complete than previous explanations. What was missing was a sufficiently dynamic conception of the policy process that would allow for the element of contingency and the sequential development of options that occurs in any significant foreign policy initiative. This has been an issue in the analysis of U.S. foreign policy decision making: how can one successfully theorize about a subject where so much of what occurs seems idiosyncratic to particular events, issues, or leaders? Many existing models of foreign policy analysis attack this problem by isolating some component of the process and examining it in detail. These models are often successful, but frequently leave the analyst wondering how the various constructs and explanations can be pulled together to create a realistic picture of the policy process. Contents in Seven Chapters The Policy-Making Puzzle, The Inheritance of Flexible Response, The ERW Becomes a Political Issue, Building a Policy at Home and Abroad, Closing the Deal, A New Crisis, and Conclusion Putting the Pieces Together. …