
How States Think
The Rationality of Foreign Policy
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Narrated by:
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Mack Sanderson
A groundbreaking examination of a central question in international relations: Do states act rationally?
To understand world politics, you need to understand how states think. Are states rational? Much of international relations theory assumes that they are. But many scholars believe that political leaders rarely act rationally. The issue is crucial for both the study and practice of international politics, for only if states are rational can scholars and policymakers understand and predict their behavior.
John J. Mearsheimer and Sebastian Rosato argue that rational decisions in international politics rest on credible theories about how the world works and emerge from deliberative decision‑making processes. Using these criteria, they conclude that most states are rational most of the time, even if they are not always successful. Mearsheimer and Rosato make the case for their position, examining whether past and present world leaders, including George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin, have acted rationally in the context of momentous historical events, including both world wars, the Cold War, and the post-Cold War era.
By examining this fundamental concept in a novel and comprehensive manner, Mearsheimer and Rosato show how leaders think, and how to make policy for dealing with other states.
©2023 John J. Mearsheimer and Sebastian Rosato (P)2023 Yale Press AudioListeners also enjoyed...




















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States think rationally !!
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However, I would not listen to this again, but I would read it. It’s a bit too academic for my taste in audio and reminded me more of a long academic paper or textbook.
Academic and detailed
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Sound theoretical analysis
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Clear framework
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An excellent work on rational foreign policy making in the international system
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I particularly valued the review of historical case studies. in fact, that was the best aspect of the book
however, the book cries for a publisher editor who's tasked to weed out repetition, remove duplication, avoid redundantcy. how many times must the authors restate the two-plank definition and criteria for rational actions and goals? I lost count at 15.
the book cries for a publisher editor who's tasked to weed out repetition, remove duplication, avoid redundantcy. how many times must the authors restate the two-plank definition and criteria for rational actions and goals? I lost count at 15.
sorry, poor humor in repeating this twice. but you get the idea. I wonder if the book was a compilation of papers, each one a chapter in the book and each one needing to state the thesis so it might stand alone?
if the book was made half the length but retained all the content, I would rate it 5 stars.
2hours of content crammed into 8 hours of listening
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Loved audible!
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Oy, the exhausting repetition of the same words and points over and over again. A promising book but a shallow read.
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