VCU Poli 105 Exam 2 UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
key difference between IR theory and foreign policy - CORRECT ANSWER - role of
individuals (prominent in IR)
IR predicts - CORRECT ANSWER - General outcomes
biggest problem with foreign policy decision making - CORRECT ANSWER - rationality
Name 3 systematic ways individual decision makers diverge from rationality? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Perception/misperception, affective bias, and cognitive bias
The bureaucratic model is also known as ____ - CORRECT ANSWER - Government
bargaining model
Allison's Three Models - CORRECT ANSWER - Rational actor model, government
bargaining model, organizational process model
Organizational process model - CORRECT ANSWER - • Assumes goal and objectives are
already established
• Makes decisions based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) that already exist
• Competing SOP's can result in: 1) compromise of SOP's, or 2) one dominant SOP
• But, this is most relevant to the vast majority of "low-level" decisions which usually leave out
the top level of decision making: i.e. mid-level appointments within embassy structures,
ceremonial practices with other states in their countries, etc.
Rational Actor Model - CORRECT ANSWER - view of foreign policy decision-making
that assumes policy-makers have a shared sense of the national interest, which they seek to attain
via a rational process of finding the most efficient means to achieve those ends
, Government bargaining model - CORRECT ANSWER - a model that sees foreign policy
decisions as flowing from a bargaining process among various government agencies that have
somewhat divergent interests in the outcome
Nixon-Kissinger Model - CORRECT ANSWER - Leader must have high interest in FP,
and agree with the advisor on this
Example of nixon-kissinger model - CORRECT ANSWER - China triangulation policy
What does foreign policy determine - CORRECT ANSWER - How and when specific
outcomes will take place
3 variables of foreign policy - CORRECT ANSWER - individuals, type of state, and
international context
Foreign Policy - CORRECT ANSWER - determine how/why certain things take place-
rational
Are perceptions/misperceptions rational? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes
cognitive bias - CORRECT ANSWER - A feature of human psychology that skews belief
formation.
Creator of the models of decision making - CORRECT ANSWER - Graham allison
Is bias a factor in the rational model? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes
T/F: Risk is not a factor of the rational model - CORRECT ANSWER - False
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
key difference between IR theory and foreign policy - CORRECT ANSWER - role of
individuals (prominent in IR)
IR predicts - CORRECT ANSWER - General outcomes
biggest problem with foreign policy decision making - CORRECT ANSWER - rationality
Name 3 systematic ways individual decision makers diverge from rationality? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Perception/misperception, affective bias, and cognitive bias
The bureaucratic model is also known as ____ - CORRECT ANSWER - Government
bargaining model
Allison's Three Models - CORRECT ANSWER - Rational actor model, government
bargaining model, organizational process model
Organizational process model - CORRECT ANSWER - • Assumes goal and objectives are
already established
• Makes decisions based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) that already exist
• Competing SOP's can result in: 1) compromise of SOP's, or 2) one dominant SOP
• But, this is most relevant to the vast majority of "low-level" decisions which usually leave out
the top level of decision making: i.e. mid-level appointments within embassy structures,
ceremonial practices with other states in their countries, etc.
Rational Actor Model - CORRECT ANSWER - view of foreign policy decision-making
that assumes policy-makers have a shared sense of the national interest, which they seek to attain
via a rational process of finding the most efficient means to achieve those ends
, Government bargaining model - CORRECT ANSWER - a model that sees foreign policy
decisions as flowing from a bargaining process among various government agencies that have
somewhat divergent interests in the outcome
Nixon-Kissinger Model - CORRECT ANSWER - Leader must have high interest in FP,
and agree with the advisor on this
Example of nixon-kissinger model - CORRECT ANSWER - China triangulation policy
What does foreign policy determine - CORRECT ANSWER - How and when specific
outcomes will take place
3 variables of foreign policy - CORRECT ANSWER - individuals, type of state, and
international context
Foreign Policy - CORRECT ANSWER - determine how/why certain things take place-
rational
Are perceptions/misperceptions rational? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes
cognitive bias - CORRECT ANSWER - A feature of human psychology that skews belief
formation.
Creator of the models of decision making - CORRECT ANSWER - Graham allison
Is bias a factor in the rational model? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes
T/F: Risk is not a factor of the rational model - CORRECT ANSWER - False
