Making Foreign Policy Decisions: Presidential Briefings(Presidential Briefings Series)

It is often said that voters hold presidents responsible for two things: the economy and foreign policy. Economic performance is generally beyond presidential control, but foreign policy is defined by the president. The White House is justifiably blamed or credited for how it manages relations with the outside world. How, then, can presidents maximize their chances to achieve successful foreign policies? What kinds of considerations should they bear in mind as they make important decisions for their country? Foreign policy begins with the process of making decisions. This briefing book examines foreign policy decision-making, and offers advice to current and future presidents drawn from fields ranging from political science and history, to psychology and economics. It identifies basic guidelines that presidents should consider when making choices. Such guidelines apply to almost any area of human endeavour, and they are certainly central to choices made in and outside of the Oval Office. When the strong make mistakes, the weak often suffer. As the strongest country in the history of the world, the United States has a special responsibility to run a sagacious foreign policy. This briefing book will benefit students, policy makers, and the general public.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Foreign Policy and the Presidency 1 Misapplied History 2 Misperception 3 Pathological Beliefs Moving Forward: A Dozen Enduring Lessons A Word on Sources

About the Author :
Christopher J. Fettweis is associate professor of political science at Tulane University, USA. He is the author of three books and many articles on these subjects.

Review :
-Fettweis's work is an achievement, a book that crisply captures the spectrum of considerations that factor into presidential decision-making in foreign policy. He offers well-reasoned explorations of the dangers of analogical reasoning, the role of leaders' belief systems, and the risks of misperception. And he writes with verve. Readers of any level will be better armed to understand today's issues, and to grasp why decisions--both good and bad--were made as they were. If I could assign this book to future presidents, I would.- --Andrew L. Stigler, National Security Affairs Department, Naval War College -This short, accessible primer to presidential decision-making in foreign policy is a tightly argued, carefully presented work that usefully alerts presidents to the sources of delusion, confusion, and misperception.- --Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount University "Fettweis's work is an achievement, a book that crisply captures the spectrum of considerations that factor into presidential decision-making in foreign policy. He offers well-reasoned explorations of the dangers of analogical reasoning, the role of leaders' belief systems, and the risks of misperception. And he writes with verve. Readers of any level will be better armed to understand today's issues, and to grasp why decisions--both good and bad--were made as they were. If I could assign this book to future presidents, I would." --Andrew L. Stigler, National Security Affairs Department, Naval War College "This short, accessible primer to presidential decision-making in foreign policy is a tightly argued, carefully presented work that usefully alerts presidents to the sources of delusion, confusion, and misperception." --Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount University "Fettweis's work is an achievement, a book that crisply captures the spectrum of considerations that factor into presidential decision-making in foreign policy. He offers well-reasoned explorations of the dangers of analogical reasoning, the role of leaders' belief systems, and the risks of misperception. And he writes with verve. Readers of any level will be better armed to understand today's issues, and to grasp why decisions--both good and bad--were made as they were. If I could assign this book to future presidents, I would." --Andrew L. Stigler, National Security Affairs Department, Naval War College "This short, accessible primer to presidential decision-making in foreign policy is a tightly argued, carefully presented work that usefully alerts presidents to the sources of delusion, confusion, and misperception." --Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount University "This short, accessible primer to presidential decision-making in foreign policy is a tightly argued, carefully presented work that usefully alerts presidents to the sources of delusion, confusion, and misperception." --Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount University