Rational Choice Political Science

Rational Choice Political Science: Understanding Political Behavior Through Individual Decisions

Introduction:

Ever wondered why politicians make the decisions they do? Or why certain policies gain traction while others fail? The seemingly chaotic world of politics can be surprisingly predictable when viewed through the lens of rational choice political science. This isn't about predicting the future with perfect accuracy, but rather understanding the underlying logic driving political actors – from individual voters to powerful presidents. This comprehensive guide will explore the core tenets of rational choice theory, its applications in understanding various political phenomena, its limitations, and its ongoing relevance in the modern political landscape. We’ll delve into game theory, collective action problems, and explore how seemingly irrational political behaviors can, in fact, be explained through rational choices made in specific contexts. Get ready to unravel the complexities of political science with a powerful new framework.

The Core Principles of Rational Choice Theory

Rational choice theory, at its heart, assumes individuals are rational actors. This doesn't imply perfect rationality, but rather that individuals strive to maximize their utility – achieving their desired outcomes given their available information and constraints. This seemingly simple premise has profound implications for understanding political behavior. Individuals weigh the costs and benefits of different actions, choosing the option that best serves their interests.

Key Assumptions:

Utility Maximization: Individuals seek to maximize their own self-interest, defined in terms of their preferences and goals. This self-interest can be material (wealth, power), ideological (adherence to a specific belief system), or even altruistic (helping others, if it aligns with their overall goals).
Complete Information (Ideally): While acknowledging imperfect information is often a reality, rational choice theory operates under the assumption that actors have at least some knowledge of the relevant options and their potential consequences.
Transitivity of Preferences: If an individual prefers A to B, and B to C, then they must also prefer A to C. This ensures a coherent and consistent set of preferences.

Game Theory and Political Strategy

Game theory is a powerful tool within rational choice political science. It analyzes strategic interactions between actors, where the outcome of one actor's choice depends on the choices of others. The classic example is the Prisoner's Dilemma, demonstrating how individual rationality can lead to collectively suboptimal outcomes. In politics, this applies to everything from arms races (where both sides escalating conflict despite mutual harm) to legislative bargaining (where compromises might not be reached even if beneficial to all involved).

Applications of Game Theory:

International Relations: Analyzing alliances, arms races, and the dynamics of conflict and cooperation between nations.
Domestic Politics: Understanding legislative bargaining, presidential veto power, and the strategic choices of political parties.
Campaign Strategy: Examining candidate decisions regarding campaign spending, issue focus, and voter targeting.

Collective Action Problems: Why Cooperation is Difficult

One significant challenge to rational choice theory is explaining collective action. If individuals act rationally to maximize their own utility, why do they cooperate to achieve common goals (e.g., supporting public goods like clean air or national defense)? The answer lies in the free-rider problem: individuals can benefit from a collective good without contributing to its provision, leading to under-provision or failure of collective action.

Overcoming Collective Action Problems:

Selective Incentives: Providing benefits specifically to those who participate (e.g., union membership benefits).
Coercion: Forcing participation, often through government regulation or social pressure.
Social Norms and Trust: Fostering a sense of community and shared identity to motivate participation.

The Limitations of Rational Choice Theory

While a powerful tool, rational choice theory isn't without its critics. Some key limitations include:

Bounded Rationality: Individuals don't always have complete information or the cognitive capacity to process all relevant information perfectly. Decisions are often made with limited information and heuristics.
Emotional and Psychological Factors: Rational choice theory often overlooks the role of emotions, biases, and psychological factors in shaping political behavior. Decisions are not always purely rational.
Social Context and Norms: The theory can sometimes neglect the impact of social norms, cultural influences, and institutional settings on individual choices.

Applying Rational Choice to Contemporary Issues

Rational choice theory continues to provide valuable insights into modern political challenges, including:

Political Polarization: Analyzing the strategic choices of political parties in creating and exploiting political divisions.
Voter Turnout: Understanding why some people vote and others don't, considering the costs and benefits of participation.
The Influence of Money in Politics: Examining how campaign donations and lobbying shape political decisions.

Ebook Outline: "Understanding Politics Through Rational Choice"

Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, Ph.D. in Political Science

Introduction: What is Rational Choice Political Science?
Chapter 1: Core Principles of Rational Choice Theory (Utility Maximization, Assumptions)
Chapter 2: Game Theory and its Applications in Political Science (Prisoner's Dilemma, other game scenarios)
Chapter 3: Collective Action Problems and Solutions (Free-rider problem, overcoming barriers to cooperation)
Chapter 4: Limitations and Criticisms of Rational Choice Theory (Bounded Rationality, psychological factors)
Chapter 5: Applications of Rational Choice to Contemporary Issues (Political Polarization, Voter Turnout, Campaign Finance)
Conclusion: The enduring value of rational choice in understanding political behavior.

Chapter Breakdown: "Understanding Politics Through Rational Choice"

Chapter 1: Core Principles of Rational Choice Theory: This chapter will define rational choice theory, explain its core assumptions (utility maximization, complete information, transitivity of preferences), and provide illustrative examples of how these principles manifest in political decision-making. It will also address the difference between perfect rationality and the more realistic concept of bounded rationality.

Chapter 2: Game Theory and its Applications in Political Science: This chapter introduces game theory as a tool for analyzing strategic interactions in politics. It will explore classic games like the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Stag Hunt, showing how these models apply to various political situations, including international relations (arms races, alliances), domestic politics (legislative bargaining, presidential veto power), and campaign strategy.

Chapter 3: Collective Action Problems and Solutions: This chapter tackles the challenge of collective action, explaining the free-rider problem and why cooperation is difficult to achieve even when it benefits everyone. It will then discuss potential solutions, including selective incentives, coercion, and the role of social norms and trust in fostering cooperation. Case studies of successful and unsuccessful collective action efforts will be analyzed.

Chapter 4: Limitations and Criticisms of Rational Choice Theory: This chapter acknowledges the limitations of rational choice theory. It discusses bounded rationality, the impact of emotions and psychology, and the role of social context and norms in shaping political behavior, offering critiques and alternative perspectives.

Chapter 5: Applications of Rational Choice to Contemporary Issues: This chapter applies the principles of rational choice to current political issues. It will analyze political polarization, voter turnout, and the influence of money in politics, offering rational choice explanations for observed patterns of behavior and highlighting the ongoing relevance of the theory in a rapidly changing political landscape.

Conclusion: This concluding chapter summarizes the key findings and contributions of rational choice political science, reinforcing its value as a framework for understanding political behavior while acknowledging its limitations. It will offer a balanced perspective, emphasizing the need for incorporating other theoretical approaches to gain a more complete understanding of political phenomena.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between rational choice theory and other political science theories? Rational choice emphasizes individual actors' strategic decisions based on utility maximization, unlike behavioralism, which focuses on observable behavior, or institutionalism, which emphasizes the role of institutions.

2. Is rational choice theory always accurate in predicting political outcomes? No, it's a model, not a perfect predictor. Bounded rationality and unforeseen circumstances can lead to deviations from predictions.

3. How does rational choice theory explain seemingly irrational political behavior? By analyzing the context and constraints within which choices are made, revealing hidden rationalities behind seemingly irrational actions.

4. What are some criticisms of rational choice theory? Critics argue it oversimplifies human behavior by ignoring emotions, social norms, and incomplete information.

5. Can rational choice theory be used to study all aspects of politics? No, it's most useful in analyzing strategic interactions and decision-making, less so in areas heavily influenced by culture or ideology.

6. How does game theory enhance the understanding of political processes? Game theory provides a framework for modeling strategic interactions, allowing us to predict likely outcomes based on actors' rational choices.

7. What is the free-rider problem, and how does it relate to collective action? The free-rider problem explains why individuals might not contribute to a collective good if they can benefit without contributing.

8. What are some examples of successful collective action? Labor unions, environmental movements, and civil rights movements are examples of successful collective action overcoming free-rider problems.

9. How can rational choice theory help us understand contemporary political polarization? By analyzing the strategic choices of political parties in exploiting divisions and mobilizing support.

Related Articles:

1. The Prisoner's Dilemma in International Relations: Explores the application of game theory to international conflicts and cooperation.
2. Collective Action and the Provision of Public Goods: A deeper dive into the free-rider problem and mechanisms for overcoming it.
3. Bounded Rationality and Decision-Making in Politics: Examines the limitations of perfect rationality and the role of heuristics in political choices.
4. Game Theory and Legislative Bargaining: Analyzes how legislators strategically negotiate and compromise to achieve their goals.
5. Rational Choice and Voter Turnout: Examines the factors influencing voter participation using a rational choice framework.
6. The Role of Emotions in Political Behavior: Contrasts rational choice with emotional and psychological influences.
7. Campaign Finance and Rational Choice: Explores how campaign donations influence political decisions.
8. Rational Choice and Political Polarization: An analysis of strategic choices that contribute to political division.
9. Institutionalism vs. Rational Choice: A Comparative Analysis: Compares and contrasts these two major schools of thought in political science.


  rational choice political science: Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory Donald Green, Ian Shapiro, 1994-09-28 This is the first comprehensive critical evaluation of the use of rational choice theory in political science. Writing in an accessible and nontechnical style, Donald P. Green and Ian Shapiro assess rational choice theory where it is reputed to be most successful: the study of collective action, the behavior of political parties and politicians, and such phenomena as voting cycles and Prisoner's Dilemmas. In their hard-hitting critique, Green and Shapiro demonstrate that the much heralded achievements of rational choice theory are in fact deeply suspect and that fundamental rethinking is needed if rational choice theorists are to contribute to the understanding of politics. In their final chapters, they anticipate and respond to a variety of possible rational choice responses to their arguments, thereby initiating a dialogue that is bound to continue for some time.
  rational choice political science: The Limits of Rationality Karen Schweers Cook, Margaret Levi, 2008-10-03 Prevailing economic theory presumes that agents act rationally when they make decisions, striving to maximize the efficient use of their resources. Psychology has repeatedly challenged the rational choice paradigm with persuasive evidence that people do not always make the optimal choice. Yet the paradigm has proven so successful a predictor that its use continues to flourish, fueled by debate across the social sciences over why it works so well. Intended to introduce novices to rational choice theory, this accessible, interdisciplinary book collects writings by leading researchers. The Limits of Rationality illuminates the rational choice paradigm of social and political behavior itself, identifies its limitations, clarifies the nature of current controversies, and offers suggestions for improving current models. In the first section of the book, contributors consider the theoretical foundations of rational choice. Models of rational choice play an important role in providing a standard of human action and the bases for constitutional design, but do they also succeed as explanatory models of behavior? Do empirical failures of these explanatory models constitute a telling condemnation of rational choice theory or do they open new avenues of investigation and theorizing? Emphasizing analyses of norms and institutions, the second and third sections of the book investigate areas in which rational choice theory might be extended in order to provide better models. The contributors evaluate the adequacy of analyses based on neoclassical economics, the potential contributions of game theory and cognitive science, and the consequences for the basic framework when unequal bargaining power and hierarchy are introduced.
  rational choice political science: Principles of Politics Joe Oppenheimer, 2012-07-30 This book presents the rational choice theories of collective action and social choice, applying them to problems of public policy and social justice. Joe Oppenheimer has crafted a basic survey of, and pedagogic guide to, the findings of public choice theory for political scientists. He describes the problems of collective action, institutional structures, regime change, and political leadership.
  rational choice political science: Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy S.M. Amadae, 2003-10-15 Offering a fascinating biography of a foundational theory, Amadae reveals not only how the ideological battles of the Cold War shaped ideas but also how those ideas may today be undermining the very notion of individual liberty they were created to defend.
  rational choice political science: Is Rational Choice Theory All of Social Science? Mark I. Lichbach, 2003-01-14 A timely examination of the current paradigm wars in political science
  rational choice political science: Beyond Rationality Alex Mintz, Nicholas A. Valentino, Carly Wayne, 2021-12-02 The first textbook to present a framework of the Behavioral Political Science paradigm for understanding political decision-making.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice Andrew Hindmoor, Brad Taylor, 2017-09-16 Assuming no prior knowledge, this widely-used and critically-acclaimed text provides a clear introduction to, and uniquely fair-minded assessment of, Rational Choice approaches. The substantially revised, updated and extended new edition includes more substantial coverage of game theory, collective action, 'revisionist' public choice, and the use of rational choice in International Relations.
  rational choice political science: To Vote or Not to Vote? Andre Blais, 2000-08-15 What makes people decide to vote? In addressing this simple question, Andre Blais examines the factors that increase or decrease turnout at the aggregate, cross-national level and considers what affects people's decision to vote or to abstain. In doing so, Blais assesses the merits and limitations of the rational choice model in explaining voter behavior. The past few decades have witnessed a rise in the popularity of the rational choice model in accounting for voter turnout, and more recently a groundswell of outspoken opposition to rational choice theory. Blais tackles this controversial subject in an engaging and personal way, bringing together the opposing theories and literatures, and offering convincing tests of these different viewpoints. Most important, he handles the discussion in a clear and balanced manner. Using new data sets from many countries, Blais concludes that while rational choice is an important tool—even when it doesn't work—its empirical contribution to understanding why people vote is quite limited. Whether one supports rational choice theory or opposes it, Blais's evenhanded and timely analysis will certainly be of interest, and is well-suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level classes.
  rational choice political science: Marx, Critical Theory, and Religion , 2006-08-01 This collection of essays brings together scholars who use frameworks provided by Marx and Critical Theory in analyzing religion. Its goal is to establish a critical theory of religion within sociology of religion as an alternative to rational choice.
  rational choice political science: Political Theory and Power Sarah Joseph, 2023-08-07
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice and Political Power Dowding, Keith, 2019-07-17 Featuring a substantial new introduction and two new chapters in the Postscript, this new edition makes one of the most significant works on power available in paperback and online for the first time. The author extensively engages with a body of new literature to elucidate and expand upon the original work, using rational choice theory to provide: • An examination of how, due to the collective action problem, groups can be powerless despite not facing any resistance • Timely engagement with feminist accounts of power • An explanation of the relationship of structure and agency and how to measure power comparatively across societies This book’s unique interaction with both classical and contemporary debates makes it an essential resource for anyone teaching or studying power in the disciplines of sociology, philosophy, politics or international relations.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice and Democratic Deliberation Guido Pincione, Fernando R. Tesón, 2006-07-24 This book offers a comprehensive and sustained critique of theories of deliberative democracy.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice and Security Studies Michael E. Brown, Owen R. Cote, Jr., Sean M. Lynn-Jones, Steven E. Miller, 2000-07-18 Opposing views on the merits of formal rational choice approaches as they have been applied to international security studies. Formal theories and rational choice methods have become increasingly prominent in most social sciences in the past few decades. Proponents of formal theoretical approaches argue that these methods are more scientific and sophisticated than other approaches, and that formal methods have already generated significant theoretical progress. As more and more social scientists adopt formal theoretical approaches, critics have argued that these methods are flawed and that they should not become dominant in most social-science disciplines. Rational Choice and Security Studies presents opposing views on the merits of formal rational choice approaches as they have been applied in the subfield of international security studies. This volume includes Stephen Walt's article Rigor or Rigor Mortis? Rational Choice and Security Studies, critical replies from prominent political scientists, and Walt's rejoinder to his critics. Walt argues that formal approaches have not led to creative new theoretical explanations, that they lack empirical support, and that they have contributed little to the analysis of important contemporary security problems. In their replies, proponents of rational choice approaches emphasize that formal methods are essential for achieving theoretical consistency and precision.
  rational choice political science: Politics from Anarchy to Democracy Irwin Lester Morris, Joe A. Oppenheimer, Karol Edward So?tan, 2004 Although the study of politics dates to ancient Greece, the basic questions that interested those earliest political scientists still linger with us today: What are the origins of government? What should government do? What conditions foster effective governance? Rational choice theory offers a new means for developing correctable answers to these questions. This volume illustrates the promise of rational choice theory and demonstrates how theory can help us develop interesting, fresh conclusions about the fundamental processes of politics. Each of the book’s three sections begins with a pedagogical overview that is accessible to those with little knowledge of rational choice theory. The first group of essays then discusses various ways in which rational choice contributes to our understanding of the foundations of government. The second set focuses on the contributions of rational choice theory to institutional analysis. The final group demonstrates ways in which rational choice theory helps to understand the character of popular government.
  rational choice political science: Modern Political Economy Jeffrey S. Banks, Eric Alan Hanushek, 1995-08-25 Political economy has been an essential realm of inquiry and has attracted myriad intellectual adherents for much of the period of modern scholarship. The discipline's formal split into the distinct studies of political science and economics in the nineteenth-century, while advantageous for certain scientific developments, has biased the way economists and political scientists think about many issues, and has placed artificial constraints on the study of many important social issues. This volume calls for a reaffirmation of the importance of the unified study of political economy, and explores the frontiers of the interaction between politics and markets. This volume brings together intellectual leaders of various areas, drawing upon state-of-the-art theoretical and empirical analysis from each of the underlying disciplines. Each chapter, while beginning with a survey of existing work, focuses on profitable lines of inquiry for future developments. Particular attention is devoted to fields of active current development.
  rational choice political science: The SAGE Handbook of Social Science Methodology William Outhwaite, Stephen Turner, 2007-10-18 An excellent guidebook through different approaches to social science measurement, including the all-important route-maps that show us how to get there. - Roger Jowell, City University In this wide-ranging collection of chapters, written by acknowledged experts in their fields, Outhwaite and Turner have brought together material in one volume which will provide an extremely important platform for consideration of the full range of contemporary analytical and methodological issues. - Charles Crothers, Auckland University of Technology This is a jewel among methods Handbooks, bringing together a formidable collection of international contributors to comment on every aspect of the various central issues, complications and controversies in the core methodological traditions. It is designed to meet the needs of those disciplinary and nondisciplinary problem-oriented social inquirers for a comprehensive overview of the methodological literature. The text is divided into 7 sections: Overviews of methodological approaches in the social sciences Cases, comparisons and theory Quantification and experiment Rationality, complexity and collectivity Interpretation, critique and postmodernity Discourse construction Engagement. Edited by two leading figures in the field, the Handbook is a landmark work in the field of research methods. More than just a ′cookbook′ that teaches readers how to master techniques, it will give social scientists in all disciplines an appreciation for the full range of methodological debates today, from the quantitative to the qualitative, giving them deeper and sharpen insights into their own research questions. It will generate debate, solutions and a series of questions for researchers to exploit and develop in their research and teaching.
  rational choice political science: The Handbook of Rational Choice Social Research Rafael Wittek, Tom A.B. Snijders, Victor Nee, 2013-06-05 The Handbook of Rational Choice Social Research offers the first comprehensive overview of how the rational choice paradigm can inform empirical research within the social sciences. This landmark collection highlights successful empirical applications across a broad array of disciplines, including sociology, political science, economics, history, and psychology. Taking on issues ranging from financial markets and terrorism to immigration, race relations, and emotions, and a huge variety of other phenomena, rational choice proves a useful tool for theory- driven social research. Each chapter uses a rational choice framework to elaborate on testable hypotheses and then apply this to empirical research, including experimental research, survey studies, ethnographies, and historical investigations. Useful to students and scholars across the social sciences, this handbook will reinvigorate discussions about the utility and versatility of the rational choice approach, its key assumptions, and tools.
  rational choice political science: Politics and Rationality William James Booth, Patrick James, Hudson Meadwell, 1994-01-28 Rational choice approaches to the study of politics are of great and growing prominence in political science. There are an increasing number of collections devoted to the methods of rational choice theory and specialized monographs applying it to individual topics. The present volume is unique in that it is a collection of substantive applications of rational choice theory in three of the main fields of political inquiry: comparative politics, international relations and political theory. The essays gathered here represent work by many of the most outstanding scholars in the discipline showing how rational choice theory may be employed in the analysis of fundamental political questions.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice and Democratic Government Tibor Rutar, 2021-09-22 Drawing on a range of data from across disciplines, this book explores a series of fundamental questions surrounding the nature, working and effects of democracy, considering the reasons for the emergence and spread of democratic government, the conditions under which it endures or collapses – and the role of wealth in this process – and the peaceful nature of dealings between democracies. With emphasis on the ‘ordinary’ voter, the author employs rational choice theory to examine the motivations of voters and their levels of political knowledge and rationality, as well as the special interests, incentives and corruption of politicians. A theoretically informed and empirically illustrated study of the birth and downfall of democracies, the extent of voters’ political knowledge and ignorance, the logic of political behaviour in both open and closed regimes, and the international effects of democratic rule, Rational Choice and Democratic Government: A Sociological Approach will appeal to scholars with interests in political sociology, political psychology, economics and political science.
  rational choice political science: Nested Games George Tsebelis, 1991-08-12 Clearly written and easily understood by the nonspecialist, Nested Games provides a systematic, empirically accurate, and theoretically coherent account of apparently irrational political actions.
  rational choice political science: Rational Theory of International Politics Charles L. Glaser, 2010-04-26 Within the realist school of international relations, a prevailing view holds that the anarchic structure of the international system invariably forces the great powers to seek security at one another's expense, dooming even peaceful nations to an unrelenting struggle for power and dominance. Rational Theory of International Politics offers a more nuanced alternative to this view, one that provides answers to the most fundamental and pressing questions of international relations. Why do states sometimes compete and wage war while at other times they cooperate and pursue peace? Does competition reflect pressures generated by the anarchic international system or rather states' own expansionist goals? Are the United States and China on a collision course to war, or is continued coexistence possible? Is peace in the Middle East even feasible? Charles Glaser puts forward a major new theory of international politics that identifies three kinds of variables that influence a state's strategy: the state's motives, specifically whether it is motivated by security concerns or greed; material variables, which determine its military capabilities; and information variables, most importantly what the state knows about its adversary's motives. Rational Theory of International Politics demonstrates that variation in motives can be key to the choice of strategy; that the international environment sometimes favors cooperation over competition; and that information variables can be as important as material variables in determining the strategy a state should choose.
  rational choice political science: Thinking about Political Psychology James H. Kuklinski, 2002-03-04 In this 2002 volume, political psychologists take a hard look at political psychology. They pose and then address, the kinds of tough questions that those outside the field would be inclined to ask and those inside should be able to answer satisfactorily. Not everyone will agree with the answers the authors provide and in some cases, the best an author can do is offer well-grounded speculations. Nonetheless, the chapters raise questions that will lead to an improved political psychology and will generate further discussion and research in the field. The individual chapters are organised around four themes. Part I tries to define political psychology and provides an overview of the field. Part II raises questions about theory and empirical methods in political psychology. Part III contains arguments ranging from the position that the field is too heavily psychological to the view that it is not psychological enough. Part IV considers how political psychologists might best connect individual-level mental processes to aggregate outcomes.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice Theory and Religion Lawrence A. Young, 2016-04-29 Rational Choice Theory and Religion considers one of the major developments in the social scientific paradigms that promises to foster a greater theoretical unity among the disciplines of sociology, political science, economics and psychology. Applying the theory of rational choice--the theory that each individual will make her choice to maximize gain and minimize cost--to the study of religion, Lawrence Young has brought together a group of internationally renowned scholars to examine this important development within the field of religion for the first time.
  rational choice political science: The G20 and International Relations Theory Steven Slaughter, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019 The future of the G20 is uncertain despite being developed to address the 2008 global financial crisis. This book considers the significance of the G20 by engaging various accounts of International Relations theory to examine the political drivers of this form of global governance. International Relations theory represents an array of perspectives that analyse the factors that drive the G20, how the G20 influences world politics and in what ways the G20 could or should be reformed in the future.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice and Politics Stephen Parsons, 2005-03-18 Rational Choice Theory claims to be able to explain how all individuals make not just some of their choices, but all of their choices, all of the time. According to the theory, there is no difference in principle between choosing whether to buy apples rather than bananas or choosing whether to join a political revolution instead of staying at home and watching television. Given these claims to universal applicability, it is perhaps not surprising to find that over the last three or four decades Rational Choice Theory has become increasingly influential as a means of providing explanations in politics. The textbook introduces the premises of Rational Choice Theory and illustrates how this theory can be applied to political studies. The book concludes with an assessment of the usefulness of the model in the light of the problems highlighted. -Parson's book provides a lucid presentation and a cogent critique of Rational Choice Theory in economics and politics. Professor Steve Pressman, Department of Economics and Finance, Monmouth University, USA
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice Theory and Organizational Theory Mary Zey, 1998 Rational Choice Theory and Organizational Theory is written in response to the neo-classical economic rational choice theories and organizational economic theories which have emerged in the past decade and gained center stage in current organizational analysis.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice Jon Elster, 1986-11 This series brings together a carefully edited selection of the most influential and enduring articles on central topics in social and political theory. Each volume contains ten to twelve articles and an introductory essay by the editor.
  rational choice political science: Politics and Rationality William James Booth, Patrick James, Hudson Meadwell, 1993 A collection of outstanding scholarship applying rational choice theory to three principal fields of political inquiry: comparative politics, international relations and political philosophy.
  rational choice political science: Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making Alex Mintz, Karl DeRouen Jr, 2010-02-22 Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making presents a psychological approach to foreign policy decision making. This approach focuses on the decision process, dynamics, and outcome. The book includes a wealth of extended real-world case studies and examples that are woven into the text. The cases and examples, which are written in an accessible style, include decisions made by leaders of the United States, Israel, New Zealand, Cuba, Iceland, United Kingdom, and others. In addition to coverage of the rational model of decision making, levels of analysis of foreign policy decision making, and types of decisions, the book includes extensive material on alternatives to the rational choice model, the marketing and framing of decisions, cognitive biases, and domestic, cultural, and international influences on decision making in international affairs. Existing textbooks do not present such an approach to foreign policy decision making, international relations, American foreign policy, and comparative foreign policy.
  rational choice political science: Putting Choice Before Democracy Emily Hauptmann, Hauptmann Emily, 1996-07-03 Shows how rational choice theory's critique and justification of democracy fails in its project to recast democratic theory.
  rational choice political science: Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory Donald P. Green, Ian Shapiro, 1994 This is the first comprehensive critical evaluation of the use of rational choice explanations in political science. Writing in an accessible and nontechnical style, Donald P. Green and Ian Shapiro assess rational choice theory where it is reputed to be most successful: the study of collective action, the behavior of political parties and politicians, and such phenomena as voting cycles and Prisoner's Dilemmas. In their hard-hitting critique, Green and Shapiro demonstrate that the much-heralded achievements of rational choice theory are in fact deeply suspect and that fundamental rethinking is needed if rational choice theorists are to contribute to the understanding of politics. Green and Shapiro show that empirical tests of rational choice theories are marred by a series of methodological defects. These defects flow from the characteristic rational choice impulse to defend universal theories of politics. As a result, many tests are so poorly conducted as to be irrelevant to evaluating rational choice models. Tests that are properly conducted either tend to undermine rational choice theories or to lend support for propositions that are banal. Green and Shapiro offer numerous suggestions as to how rational choice propositions might be reformulated as parts of testable hypotheses for the study of politics. In a final chapter they anticipate and respond to a variety of rational choice counterarguments, thereby initiating a dialogue that is bound to continue for some time.
  rational choice political science: Positive Political Theory I David Austen-Smith, Jeffrey S. Banks, 2000-12-27 A definitive, comprehensive, and analytically sophisticated treatment of the theory of collective preference
  rational choice political science: A Behavioral Theory of Elections Jonathan Bendor, 2011-02-06 Most theories of elections assume that voters and political actors are fully rational. This title provides a behavioral theory of elections based on the notion that all actors - politicians as well as voters - are only boundedly rational.
  rational choice political science: Communicative Action and Rational Choice Joseph Heath, 2003-01-24 In this book Joseph Heath brings Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action into dialogue with the most sophisticated articulation of the instrumental conception of practical rationality-modern rational choice theory. Heath begins with an overview of Habermas's action theory and his critique of decision and game theory. He then offers an alternative to Habermas's use of speech act theory to explain social order and outlines a multidimensional theory of rational action that includes norm-governed action as a specific type. In the second part of the book Heath discusses the more philosophical dimension of Habermas's conception of practical rationality. He criticizes Habermas's attempt to introduce a universalization principle governing moral discourse, as well as his criteria for distinguishing between moral and ethical problems. Heath offers an alternative account of the level of convergence exhibited by moral argumentation, drawing on game-theoretic models to specify the burden of proof that the theory of communicative action and discourse must assume.
  rational choice political science: Rational Choice Marxism Terrell Carver, Paul Thomas, 1995 To begin with, rational choice Marxism, promised to construct historical explanations and social theories with clarity and rigour. Subsequently, it took a political turn' in addressing issues of class and production, and the prospects for electoral socialism. This anthology commences with the founding classics - Erik Olin Wright's What is Analytical Marxism?' and Alan Carling's spirited challenge to the Marxist establishment - which are answered with critical responses detailed by Ellen Meiksins Wood and Michael Burawoy in previously uncollected debates. Also included are further debates charting the historical progression of rational choice Marxism. The editors demonstrate that the clarity and rigour originally promised by the rational choice Marxists was never in fact achieved, but that rational choice Marxism has considerably enhanced the theoretical treatment of class and production in a world of commodification and difference.
  rational choice political science: An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Adam Smith, 1822
  rational choice political science: Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement Dennis Chong, 1991-06-18 Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement is a theoretical study of the dynamics of public-spirited collective action as well as a substantial study of the American civil rights movement and the local and national politics that surrounded it. In this major historical application of rational choice theory to a social movement, Dennis Chong reexamines the problem of organizing collective action by focusing on the social, psychological, and moral incentives of political activism that are often neglected by rational choice theorists. Using game theoretic concepts as well as dynamic models, he explores how rational individuals decide to participate in social movements and how these individual decisions translate into collective outcomes. In addition to applying formal modeling to the puzzling and important social phenomenon of collective action, he offers persuasive insights into the political and psychological dynamics that provoke and sustain public activism. This remarkably accessible study demonstrates how the civil rights movement succeeded against difficult odds by mobilizing community resources, resisting powerful opposition, and winning concessions from the government.
  rational choice political science: Theories of Choice Stefan Grundmann, Philipp Hacker, 2021 This book provides an in-depth discussion of the promises and perils of specific types of theories of choice. It shows how the selection of a specific theory of choice can make a difference for concrete legal questions, in particular in the regulation of the digital economy or in choosing between market, firm, or network.
  rational choice political science: A Theory of Justice John RAWLS, 2009-06-30 Though the revised edition of A Theory of Justice, published in 1999, is the definitive statement of Rawls's view, so much of the extensive literature on Rawls's theory refers to the first edition. This reissue makes the first edition once again available for scholars and serious students of Rawls's work.
  rational choice political science: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics Iain McLean, Alistair McMillan, 2009-02-26 This best-selling dictionary contains over 1,700 entries on all aspects of politics. Written by a leading team of political scientists, it embraces the whole multi-disciplinary specturm of political theory including political thinkers, history, institutions, and concepts, as well as notable current affairs that have shaped attitudes to politics. An appendix contains timelines listing the principal office-holders of a range of countries including the UK, Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and China. Fully revised and updated for the 3rd edition, the dictionary includes a wealth of new material in areas such as international relations, political science, political economy, and methodologies, as well as a chronology of key political theorists. It also boasts entry-level web links that don't go out of date. These can be accessed via a regularly checked and updated companion website, ensuring that the links remain relevent, and any dead links are replaced or removed. The dictionary has international coverage and will prove invaluable to students and academics studying politics and related disciplines, as well as politicians, journalists, and the general reader seeking clarification of political terms.