POSC240 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Cuban Missile Crisis, Nikita Khrushchev, Security Dilemma

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POSC240
• Professor: Ellerby Kara

Document Summary

Cuban missile crisis: rational and non-rational decision-making models in gp. Making model explain wars and crises by focusing on leaders" decisions. Based on economics and theories of individual decision making. Individual loa leaders represent interest of the state. Unitary actor (talk about leaders and states as same thing; they"re individuals) Perfect information: you have all the tools/info you need to make the best decision + differentiates between rational and non-rational. Cost (means) x benefits (ends) = efficiency/effectiveness. When you have goals, you have options. You must calculate cost/benefit of each option perfect information. Credible threats: khrushchev moves missiles to cuba, kennedy"s ultimatum: remove weapons or we invade cuba. Avoid nuclear war and look strong while doing it. Shift balance of power (wants us missiles in. Turkey out) and improve public opinion and avoid nuclear war. Make case that decisions rational b/c primary goal is to avoid nuclear war for both leaders.