Power Over Rationality

Alex Roberto Hybel is Robert J. Lynch Associate Professor of Government at Connecticut College. He is the author of How Leaders Reason: U.S. Intervention in the Caribbean Basin and Latin America, and The Logic of Surprise in International Conflict.

"This is a provocative book, not just because it advances a critical theory or a counter-intuitive interpretation but also because it poses important and tough questions about some crucial issues of both social science inquiry and contemporary U.S. foreign policy. Its enduring contribution is that it provides the context within which any case materials relevant to the conduct of foreign policy can be evaluated." — from the Foreword by James Rosenau"What appeals to me most is the fit and balance the author achieves between the theoretical argument and the case study. Hybel makes genuine use of the history as he develops his argument, and as a result, he does more than illustrate cognitive principles. He provides a genuine explanation of why Bush rushed into the war in the Gulf." — Dwain Mefford, Ohio State University

• Foreword Preface 1. Power, War, and Decision-Making Aptitudes 2. A Typology of Decision-Making Aptitudes 3. A Preventable Surprise 4. Power Over Rationality 5. Rationality and Power Notes Bibliography Index