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VCU Poli 105 Exam 2 Questions with Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
key difference between IR theory and foreign policy Answer: role of
individuals (prominent in IR)
IR predicts Answer: General outcomes
biggest problem with foreign policy decision making Answer: rationality
Name 3 systematic ways individual decision makers diverge from
rationality? Answer: Perception/misperception, affective bias, and
cognitive bias
The bureaucratic model is also known as ____ Answer: Government
bargaining model
Allison's Three Models Answer: Rational actor model, government
bargaining model, organizational process model
Organizational process model Answer: • Assumes goal and objectives
are already established
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, 2
• 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 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 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 Answer: Leader must have high interest in FP,
and agree with the advisor on this
© 2025 All rights reserved
VCU Poli 105 Exam 2 Questions with Answers (100%
Correct Answers)
key difference between IR theory and foreign policy Answer: role of
individuals (prominent in IR)
IR predicts Answer: General outcomes
biggest problem with foreign policy decision making Answer: rationality
Name 3 systematic ways individual decision makers diverge from
rationality? Answer: Perception/misperception, affective bias, and
cognitive bias
The bureaucratic model is also known as ____ Answer: Government
bargaining model
Allison's Three Models Answer: Rational actor model, government
bargaining model, organizational process model
Organizational process model Answer: • Assumes goal and objectives
are already established
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
• 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 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 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 Answer: Leader must have high interest in FP,
and agree with the advisor on this
© 2025 All rights reserved
