Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs
Season 3, Episode 1: John Mearsheimer, How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy
Nov 7, 2023
Political scientist John Mearsheimer joins Jeffrey Sachs to discuss his book on the rationality of foreign policy. They analyze historical case studies, including the US invasion of Iraq, and explore the rationality of states in decision-making. The podcast covers topics such as the Ukraine war, NATO expansion, and the role of diplomacy in foreign policy.
51:44
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Quick takeaways
- States are generally rational in their foreign policymaking, using deliberative processes grounded in plausible theories of the world.
- Russia's opposition to NATO's eastward expansion, particularly regarding Ukraine, is a rational strategy to safeguard their national security interests rather than an irrational pursuit of territorial expansion.
Deep dives
The book explores the rationality of state decision-making in foreign policy
The book investigates the widespread perception in academia and policy-making that states are irrational in their foreign policy behavior. The authors challenge this notion and argue that most theories in international relations are based on the rational actor assumption. They examine the concept of rationality, explore the historical record of state behavior, and conclude that states are mostly rational in their decision-making. However, they acknowledge instances of non-rationality, such as the George W. Bush invasion of Iraq in 2003.
