This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Wang, K. H. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Presidential Responses to Foreign Policy Crises

Rational Choice and Domestic Politics

Florida State University

Previous analyses have revealed that since World War II, decisions to use U.S. military force have been more dependent on domestic political factors than on the international environment. This research, however, focuses on the general context of decision making instead of the situational context surrounding presidential decisions to use the U.S. military for policy purposes. The current research frames prior analyses and findings within a rational choice framework of crisis decision making. It assesses the impacts of international and domestic factors on the severity of U.S. responses in international crises from 1954 to 1986. A high expected value for war and "defeats" in previous crises makes the United States more likely to resort to violent crisis responses. Also, U.S. responses are likely to be more severe during high levels of economic "misery," as presidential elections become more proximate and as the president's partisan control over Congress increases.

Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 40, No. 1, 68-97 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/0022002796040001005


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Sobek Rallying Around the Podesta: Testing Diversionary Theory Across Time Journal of Peace Research, January 1, 2007; 44(1): 29 - 45. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Brule Congressional Opposition, the Economy, and U.S. Dispute Initiation, 1946-2000 Journal of Conflict Resolution, August 1, 2006; 50(4): 463 - 483. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. O. FORDHAM Another Look at "Parties, Voters, and the Use of Force Abroad" Journal of Conflict Resolution, August 1, 2002; 46(4): 572 - 596. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. B. BLOMBERG and G. D. HESS The Temporal Links between Conflict and Economic Activity Journal of Conflict Resolution, February 1, 2002; 46(1): 74 - 90. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Meernik Domestic Politics and the Political Use of Military Force by the United States Political Research Quarterly, December 1, 2001; 54(4): 889 - 904. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. D. Baker and J. R. Oneal Patriotism or Opinion Leadership?: The Nature and Origins of the "Rally 'Round the Flag" Effect Journal of Conflict Resolution, October 1, 2001; 45(5): 661 - 687. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Meernik Modeling International Crises and the Political Use of Military Force by the USA Journal of Peace Research, September 1, 2000; 37(5): 547 - 562. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. H. MOORE and D. R. DAVIS Ties that Bind?: Domestic and International Conflict Behavior in Zaire Comparative Political Studies, February 1, 1998; 31(1): 45 - 71. [Abstract]

				B. A. Leeds and D. R. Davis Domestic Political Vulnerability and International Disputes Journal of Conflict Resolution, December 1, 1997; 41(6): 814 - 834. [Abstract]

				B. Heldt The Dependent Variable of the Domestic-External Conflict Relationship: Anecdotes, Theories and Systematic Studies Journal of Peace Research, February 1, 1997; 34(1): 101 - 106. [Abstract]