Making Foreign Policy Presidential Management of the Decision-Making Process

Originally published in 2005. David Mitchell provides a better understanding of the role presidents play in the decision-making process in terms of their influence on two key steps in the process: deliberation and outcome of policy making. The events that have taken place in relation to the Bush administration's decisions to fight the war on terrorism and invade Iraq highlight how important it is to understand the president's role in formulating policy. This influential study presents an advisory system theory of decision-making to examine cases of presidential policy formulation drawn from the Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and Bush administrations. Easily accessible to scholars, graduates and advanced undergraduates interested in US foreign policy or foreign policy analysis, presidential studies, and bureaucracy and public administrations scholars, and to practitioners and those with a general interest in International Relations.

1. Presidents and foreign policy processes. 2. An explanation of method and cases. 3. Nixon, Kissinger, and North Vietnam. 4. Negotiating strategic arms limitations. 5. Strategic arms reduction talks. 6. Bill Clinton and Bosnia. 7.Bush decision making: Pre- and post-9/11. 8. Advisory system framework. 9. Building a more effective advisory system.