In this chapter we analyze humans as actors on the world stage. Our fundamental task is to identify the characteristics of the complex process of human decision making which includes gathering information, analyzing that information, establishing goals, pondering options, and making policy choices. The human role in the world drama can be addressed from three different perspectives: human nature, organizational behavior, and idiosyncratic behavior.Human nature involves the way in which fundamental human characteristics affect decisions.Organizational behavior looks at how humans interact within organized settings, such as a decision-making group.Idiosyncratic behavior explores how the peculiarities of individual decision makers affect foreign policy.
The activities in this chapter are designed to help you understand the role of the individual in world events.
Identify the heuristic strategies humans use to sort and evaluate information by selecting the correct strategy from a list. |
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Identify the roles of psychological and biological factors in the nature-of-humankind approach by reading a scenario that gives women the leadership on the planet of Xylos. |
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Consider how personal and political history can shape a political leaders' decision making by analyzing the leaders and their decisions in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1961. |
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Examine female heads of state by viewing a map. |
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Learn more about individuals and their roles in political decision making by visiting other selected Web sites. |