As noted in the Syllabus, this is the first of three 6-8-page papers required for the course. In this paper, I would like you to take the opportunity to analyze and comment on the ways decisions are made in foreign policy. Specifically, you should consider the three models of decision making outlined in class. Following our in-class simulation of the decision making around the Cuban Missile Crisis, each of you will have a different experience with decision making, based on the identity you assumed and the decision-making assumptions assigned to your group. You should use this experience, and the way it forced you to evaluate and understand the factors revealed in the unfolding of the Missile Crisis to answer the following question:

This question is designed to force you to take a position that one of the three models is more useful in understanding the formation of international policy, although it is also possible to argue that a combination of factors is involved. What you should do is be clear about the position you take, and be sure to outline the perspective/model you wish to promote, as well as those alternatives you are discounting. I will be looking first and foremost for a clear understanding and evaluation of the three perspectives, as well as an argument in favor of one (or a combination) of the three.

Your paper should be organized around the question given above, however you should also support your position with experience gained while attempting to analyze the Cuban Missile Crisis experience exclusively from one model/perspective in class (what were the strengths of this approach, weaknesses?). You will also be expected to use your knowledge of what actually took place in the Cuban Missile Crisis. For knowledge on the actual events, I suggest that you pursue further study of the materials given for the course in the Internet Packet, and the link to further information given there (particularly the time line). You may also wish to view the film: "Missiles of October." The library owns a copy of this movie, which it has in the A/V center (you can view it there). I also own a copy, which I will place on 24-hour reserve in the Library. I encourage you, if you borrow the film for viewing at home, to notify others in the class should they wish to view it with you. If you want to make a general announcement to the class that you will be showing the film (and when), let me know, and I will post it on the website: faculty.quinnipiac.edu/libarts/polsci/PO111.asp. Finally, I will put on reserve a copy of Graham Allison’s Essence of Decision, the most comprehensive treatment of the Cuban Missile Crisis from the perspective of explaining the US government’s decision-making process, should you wish to consult this book for further insight into either the models or the events. The paper is due on Monday, February 28^th, in class.