How to Know a State is Acting Rationally

John Mearsheimer : How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy is a two -part definition of rationality.

He argues that if you see an individual or group of individuals making a policy that’s based on a credible theory, that is rational.

The second part of our argument is that the different individuals involved in the policymaking process have to work together in a collective way to produce a rational decision.

John Mearsheimer : It’s really the process and not so much the goals except for survival.

As long as Mexico is weak, and Canada is a friend, there is no existential threat to the U.S. from other powers.

The question of whether or not the United States or any other great power should expand, should pursue regional hegemony, or pursue global hegemony.

John Mearsheimer : There are three general patterns in terms of how policy makers interact with each other “inside the room” The first pattern is that there is no agreement among the policymakers.

The second pattern is there’s no agreement initially among the policy makers, and they never reach agreement.

And the ultimate decider, the sovereign, in effect, has to make a decision.