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The Decision Not to Use Force at Dien Bien Phu: A Poliheuristic Perspective

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Integrating Cognitive and Rational Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making

Part of the book series: Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis ((AFPA))

Abstract

The foreign policy decision-making literature has largely ignored nonevents. However, the study of nonevents can make decision-making theory richer by broadening its explanatory powers. Nonevent emphasis will provide valuable information for, as Holsti (1992, 453) asserts, “[s]olid evidence about contemporary non-events is, to understate the case, rather hard to come by.” One means of probing nonevents is through the case study. The main merit of the crisis case study is that it allows the researcher a more detailed look at cognitive processes and background factors. It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of detailed case studies, particularly since they can be used as foundations for formal models (Singer and Hudson 1992, 256). Finally, the case study pays greater attention to detail and complexity than either the statistical or the experimental approaches (Tetlock 1989, 358).

Some of this chapter is based on material contained in my book Politics, Economics and Presidential Use of Force Decision Making (2001). The work presented here has been thoroughly revised and updated. I appreciate the comments and suggestions of Alex Mintz.

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Authors
  1. Karl DeRouen Jr.
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Alex Mintz

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© 2003 Alex Mintz

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DeRouen, K. (2003). The Decision Not to Use Force at Dien Bien Phu: A Poliheuristic Perspective. In: Mintz, A. (eds) Integrating Cognitive and Rational Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making. Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-07848-3_2

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