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Key Words error and bias, tradeoff reasoning, prospect theory, accountability pressures, internalization s Abstract Organized around several major theoretical traditions in international relations, this essay suggests which literature in psychology should be of greatest interest to different kinds of international relations scholars. New work in cognitive social psychology and behavioral decision theory simultaneously expands on and qua-lifies earlier error-and-bias portraits of the foreign policy maker, thereby enriching our understanding of internal divisions within the realist camp. Work on bounded rationality in competitive markets and mixed-motive games, as well as the literature on the power of human emotions to shape judgments of what represents an equitable allocation of scarce resources or a just resolution of conflicts of interest, can inform neo-institutionalist and constructivist theories. Developments in cross-cultural social psychology shed light on constructivist arguments about the creation and maintenance of international social order that typically rest on assumptions about decision making that are qualitatively different from realist and institutionalist approaches to world politics.
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... The liberal tradition of IR posits that actors are motivated by prospects for cooperation, carefully weighing the costs and benefits in order to meet their material needs (Goldgeier & Tetlock, 2001;Haas, 1958;Keohane, 2005). What are those material needs, however, is typically left vague. ...
... The desire to attain significance is deeply rooted in the evolution of the international system. The survival of nation-states since the establishment of the Westphalian system (Goldgeier & Tetlock, 2001;Pinker, 2009) has been based on the principles of exclusive sovereignty over their own territories, which emerged from the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War of 1648 (Paul, 1999). The existence of actors like Kosovo today is a result of winning recognition from the international community, with the United States being a particularly strong advocate due to the suffering endured during the ethnic cleansing of 1998-1999 (Roseberry, 2013). ...
... This chapter has provided a concise introduction to the SQT as a motivational construct, highlighting its potential application in the field of international politics. Unlike existing psychological and sociopsychological perspectives within the discipline of IR that primarily focus on real world material considerations presumed to drive judgment and choice (Goldgeier & Tetlock, 2001), the SQT offers a comprehensive framework for understanding human motivation within social structures. By placing emphasis on the quest for significance, this theory offers an alternative for comprehending the motivations and intentions of global actors, thereby enhancing the explanatory capacity of prevailing IR paradigms commonly employed in the analysis of foreign policy decision-making (Smith et al., 2016;Scott & Rosati, 2020). ...
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This chapter on the intersection of foreign affairs and significance-quest theory (SQT) offers a comprehensive perspective on the psychological motivations driving international politics. It examines the interplay between needs, narratives, and networks, providing a coherent framework for understanding the conduct of states. We argue that an appreciable scope of behavior in international relations (IR) is driven by the actors’ pursuit of significance, a sense of social worth, and mattering. This argument is illustrated by a wealth of empirical examples, ranging from Russia’s tendency for aggressive behavior and the failure of the War on Terrorism, to the international activities of nonstate actors such as Bill Gates or George Soros. Unlike existing paradigms in IR theories, the theoretical framework of the need for significance as a universal motivation offers a more nuanced and inclusive perspective for understanding the arena of world affairs. Through its integration of both material and non-material dimensions in the decision-making of world leaders, the SQT enriches the theoretical legacy of social constructivism in IR. Recognizing that other actors in the system of international relations matter and acknowledging their need for significance can have profound implications for foreign policy practice.
... Політична психологія має надзвичайно широкий діапазон і охоплює різноманітні проблемні сфери: вплив особистості лідера на світову чи державну політику, вплив ідеології на моделі голосування населення та стереотипи, які соціальні групи дотримуються щодо інших груп тощо [9]. Розвиток міжкультурної соціальної психології проливає світло на конструктивістські аргументи щодо створення та підтримки міжнародного соціаль-ного порядку, що ґрунтуються на припущеннях щодо прийняття рішень, які якісно відрізняються від реалістичних та інституційних підходів до вивчення особливостей світової політики [3]. ...
... Nevertheless, we need to be careful: Not everything can be explained by psychology. Goldgeier and Tetlock (2001) rightly argue that the application of psychology to 'International Relations' is not necessarily reductionist. Instead, it is possible to discuss the issue by uncovering the hidden psychological assumptions of 'International Relations' theories and frameworks (Kertzer & Tingley, 2018). ...
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This study aims to critically analyze the İsmet İnönü era in Turkey during his tenure while concentrating on the challenges and shortcomings of democracy. It will focus on various dimensions, including political restrictions, limitations on freedom of expression, one-party rule, electoral systems, socio-cultural factors as well as economic policies so as to offer a detailed examination of the complex dynamics which shaped the democratic landscape of the mentioned era. Studying the mentioned dimensions is expected to uncover the factors which led to the inadequacy of democracy during the İnönü era and eventually to evaluate their implications for Turkey's democratic development, which on the one hand encompasses the succession from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Republican People's Party's (CHP) dominant role and on the other hand emphasizes the consolidation of power and the challenges to political representation. Particularly, the analysis of electoral practices can provide insights into the limitations of democratic processes, such as restrictive laws, voter intimidation, and limited political pluralism. Moreover, the study will examine the impact of these challenges on democratic decision-making which would include but not limited to the centralization of power, the marginalization of opposition voices, and the implications for citizen participation. The study will also try to evaluate the restrictions on freedom of speech and the media landscape, discussing the limitations imposed on critical voices, media control, and its consequences on public discourse and democratic participation. In addition to these, the study is expected to assess the socio-cultural dynamics which would focus on İnönü's modernization policies and their impact on social transformation. The study will explore the tensions between traditional values and cultural constraints, too. This will be carried out by highlighting the challenges faced by less represented groups and the inclusiveness of the political system. The economic policies of the İnönü era, including the economic vision and development strategies will be scrutinized, with particular attention given to the socio-economic disparities and their effects on democratic participation as well as political power dynamics. Furthermore, the study will attempt to examine the international relations and foreign policy approach of İsmet İnönü. This examination will be through the consideration of the implications for democracy and Turkey's international standing. The influence of external factors on democracy in Turkey during the mentioned timeline will also be assessed. Finally, the study will be concluded with the evaluation of the legacy of the İnönü’s era, weighing the democratic gains and losses while drawing lessons for Turkey's democratic development and considering the implications for the post-İnönü era. This comprehensive analysis is expected to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the İsmet İnönü era's impact on democracy in Turkey which could highlight the complexities and challenges faced during his tenure. The critical examination of the various dimensions, the study will provide valuable insights for scholars, policymakers as well as for any expert who is interested in Turkey's democratic history and in the ongoing democratic journey.
... Hence, most of these bounded rationality approaches focus on "optimal cost-benefit trade-offs" (Scharpf, 1997: 732). Such considerations have previously been successfully applied to international relations and foreign policy analysis (Goldgeier and Tetlock, 2001;Rapport, 2017). ...
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