{"product_id":"the-polythink-syndrome-alex-mintz-9780804795159","title":"The Polythink Syndrome: U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions on 9\/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Isis","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhy do presidents and their advisors often make sub-optimal decisions on military intervention, escalation, de-escalation, and termination of conflicts? \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe leading concept of group dynamics, \u003ci\u003egroupthink\u003c\/i\u003e, offers one explanation: policy-making groups make sub-optimal decisions due to their desire for conformity and uniformity over dissent, leading to a failure to consider other relevant possibilities. But presidential advisory groups are often fragmented and divisive. This book therefore scrutinizes \u003ci\u003epolythink\u003c\/i\u003e, a group decision-making dynamic whereby different members in a decision-making unit espouse a plurality of opinions and divergent policy prescriptions, resulting in a disjointed decision-making process or even decision paralysis.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe book analyzes eleven national security decisions, including the national security policy designed prior to the terrorist attacks of 9\/11, the decisions to enter into and withdraw from Afghanistan and Iraq, the 2007 \"surge\" decision, the crisis over the Iranian nuclear program, the UN Security Council decision on the Syrian Civil War, the faltering Kerry Peace Process in the Middle East, and the U.S. decision on military operations against ISIS.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on the analysis of these case studies, the authors address implications of the polythink phenomenon, including prescriptions for avoiding and\/or overcoming it, and develop strategies and tools for what they call \u003ci\u003eProductive Polythink\u003c\/i\u003e. The authors also show the applicability of polythink to business, industry, and everyday decisions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alex Mintz,Carly Wayne\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0804795150\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780804795159\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Stanford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/20\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 200\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2016","brand":"Alex Mintz","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48065153335551,"sku":"9780804795159","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_64ac510a-5f2b-4358-9d37-cddf50d6674a.jpg?v=1768673347","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-polythink-syndrome-alex-mintz-9780804795159","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}