Journal article
Individual Characteristics of Political Leaders and the Use of Analogy in Foreign Policy Decision Making
Political psychology, Vol.27(2), pp.265-288
04/2006
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/104965
Abstract
The linkages between individual characteristics of political leaders and their usage of historical analogy during foreign policy decision‐making episodes were examined. The individual characteristics studied were conceptual complexity and policy expertise, while usage of analogy was studied in terms of the sophistication and source of historical comparisons. The great majority of the analogies used by low‐complexity individuals were nonsophisticated, whereas high‐complexity individuals consistently used more sophisticated analogies. Low‐complexity individuals drew analogies solely from their own generational and cultural context, while high‐complexity leaders drew their analogies from a wider range of sources. More expert leaders drew from their personal experiences to a marginally greater degree than less expert individuals but, interestingly, both types of individual relied on generally available rather than personally experienced events for their analogies. The value added of the approach is to demonstrate that different types of leaders use history differently during political decision making.
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Details
- Title
- Individual Characteristics of Political Leaders and the Use of Analogy in Foreign Policy Decision Making
- Creators
- Stephen Benedict DysonThomas Preston
- Publication Details
- Political psychology, Vol.27(2), pp.265-288
- Academic Unit
- Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, School of
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Inc; Malden, USA
- Number of pages
- 24
- Identifiers
- 99900546760401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article