International Conflict and the Strategic Selection of Foreign Policy Advisors

• Other Authors: Ausderan, Jacob Thomas (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Political science; Political science > History
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-7278

In this dissertation, I examine the selection of foreign policy advisors as part of a strategic decision-making process by the political leader. Among other things, I find that the hawkish foreign policy preferences of a state's political leadership (comprised of the political leader, foreign minister, and defense minister) have a negative effect on the likelihood that that state is targeted, and that inexperienced leaders are more likely to select foreign and defense ministers with hawkish foreign policy preferences. I also find that, all else being equal, leaders tend to select foreign and defense ministers with similar foreign policy preferences in order to maximize the probability with which they achieve their preferred policies. These findings were generated using original data on the personal characteristics of the foreign and defense ministers of 164 countries between 1950 and 2000. I also ran an original, web-based experiment in the U.S. and India that provided additional support for the theoretical arguments leading to my hypotheses. === A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Political Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. === Summer Semester, 2013. === June 14, 2013. === Includes bibliographical references. === Mark A. Souva, Professor Directing Dissertation; Mark W. Horner, University Representative; Sean D. Ehrlich, Committee Member; Megan Shannon, Committee Member.