THE PATHOLOGY OF FOREIGN POLICY: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

One of the most important concerns in the field of public policy in general and foreign policy, in particular, is the issue of wrong decisions. That is, decisions that are unlikely to lead to the desired goals in the implementation or even if the results are negative in terms of goals. Although due to the feedback aspects as well as the involvement of other actors whose actions and reactions may not be possible to determine, there is no definite guarantee for a rational or correct decision. However, by recognizing the areas that lead to the decision that is more likely to fail, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of a wrong decision and also avoid the continuation of losses due to feedback. The purpose of this article is to show what factors can lead to inappropriate decision-making and policy-making after presenting a model of optimal rational decision-making, relying on theoretical achievements in the field of international relations and foreign policy. The argument of the article is that despite the multiplicity of factors involved, it is ultimately the cognitive factors that have a decisive influence on decision making.