A dynamic framework for analyzing foreign policy decision making

Following World War II, the study of foreign policy from a decision-making perspective was introduced. Several methods of reaching decisions also emerged, with each approach often rendering different choices even though based on identical beliefs and perceptions. The present work focuses on the structure of the decision process. It is argued that most past and current research on foreign policy decision making may be significantly distorted as a result of the attempt to impose a framework for analyzing the decision process that inappropriately represents the dynamics of foreign policymaking. Evidence is given that the major deficiency with popular frameworks is the tendency to regard decisions as ad hoc episodes.