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cover of episode How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy

How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy

2023/10/3
logo of podcast Cato Event Podcast

Cato Event Podcast

Shownotes Transcript

Are states rational? Much of international relations theory assumes that they are. But many scholars believe that political leaders rarely act rationally. John J. Mearsheimer will argue that rational decisions in international politics rest on credible theories about how the world works and emerge from deliberative decisionmaking processes. Using these criteria, he will describe how most states are rational most of the time, even if they are not always successful, and will discuss implications for formulating foreign policy. Join Mearsheimer and Ashley Tellis, a scholar with extensive policy experience, for a discussion of whether states behave rationally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy) for more information.