RATIONALITY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The subject of ‘international relations’ is often regarded as an account of rational actors interacting with each other. In some views of the discipline, states are held to be the primary rational actors, and their interaction is all that is of significance, certainly when it comes to the issue of peace and war. Even if we extend the number of actors to include multinational corporations, religious organisations and other actors on the scene, the basic principle is still there – for the most part an account of international relations is an account of actors rationally pursuing goals. State decision makers are particularly concerned to insist that they are rational. While wielding their vast weaponry, nuclear and otherwise, they are eager to reassure us of their rationality, a reassurance that, for our peace of mind, we are only too anxious to credit. States ruled by apparently deranged rulers cause us particular concern.

In such circumstances it seems appropriate to investigate the concept of rationality in decision taking with some care. The next five chapters are devoted to it. It will appear that, from both logical and psychological points of view, rationality and rational decision are much more complex and ambiguous concepts than might appear from the heartier expressions of both scholars and practitioners. This chapter, and the next two, concentrate on the logical points, while the final two consider the psychological factors.