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Combining decades of diplomacy and world-renowned scholarship, Inside the Situation Room bridges the gap between politics and academia to illuminate how world leaders make decisions in times of crisis.
For decades, people have sought to understand how and why decisions are made in times of crisis, but very few get the opportunity to witness leaders' decision-making process. The result has been a persistent disconnect between the theory and the practice of decision-making.
Now, a former US Secretary of State has joined forces with a world-renowned scholar to bridge that gap, first in their ground-breaking class at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and now in the pages of this book. In Inside the Situation Room, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dr. Keren Yarhi-Milo bring together insights from more than a dozen leading policymakers and scholars so readers can experience a masterclass in global policy and crisis decision-making. The book includes everything from the psychology and mechanics of threat assessment; the role of advisors; the effects of group think and trust; real-life stories of diplomatic efforts and covert operations; and the impact of public opinion.
Inside the Situation Room offers an insider look at how decisions are actually made, what theoretical insights might be useful to current and future generations of leaders, and where research still needs to be done. This book will serve as the first step toward a new standard engagement: more active, iterative collaboration among two communities—scholars and practitioners—who have a great deal to contribute and learn from one another.
Contributor Bios
Introduction, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Keren Yarhi-Milo
Section 1
1:The Challenges of Threat Assessment: Does Danger Depend on Who You Ask?, Don Casler and Keren Yarhi-Milo
2:The Role of Advisers: How Ideas Shape International Crises, Tyler Jost, Joshua D. Kertzer, Eric Min, and Robert Schub
3:How Emotions Shape Crisis Decision-Making: The Role of Fear, Anger, and Risk, Rose McDermott
Section 2
4:The Trust Gap: Why Face-to-Face Diplomacy Matters in Global Crises, Marcus Holmes
5:The Iran Deal: Making Decisions Count in Multilateral Diplomacy, Catherine Ashton
6:The Challenges of Effective Statecraft: An Examination of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Dennis Ross
7:How Coercive Diplomacy Works: Making Threats in International Crises, Reid B. C. Pauly and Jessica Chen Weiss
8:When Coercive Diplomacy Doesn't Work: Lessons Learned Through Failures with a Hostile Adversary, John J. Sullivan
9:The Unique Challenges of Covert Missions: How Leaders Assess the "Quiet Option", Austin Carson
10:The Baghdadi Operation: A Quickly and Quietly Orchestrated Plan, Robert C. O'Brien
11:The Bin Laden Operation: How a President Made a Risky Decision, Leon E. Panetta
12:Women's Participation in Security Processes: A Strategic Imperative, Jennifer Klein, Rebecca Turkington, Melanne Verveer, and Rachel Vogelstein
13: The Elusive Role of Public Opinion: The Invisible Decision-Makers in the Room, Elizabeth N. Saunders and Jessica L. P. Weeks
14:Public Opinion Matters: How and Why Citizens Have Influence in the Situation Room, Victoria Nuland
Conclusion: From the Situation Room to the Classroom, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Keren Yarhi-Milo
Bibliography
Index
Description
Combining decades of diplomacy and world-renowned scholarship, Inside the Situation Room bridges the gap between politics and academia to illuminate how world leaders make decisions in times of crisis.
For decades, people have sought to understand how and why decisions are made in times of crisis, but very few get the opportunity to witness leaders' decision-making process. The result has been a persistent disconnect between the theory and the practice of decision-making.
Now, a former US Secretary of State has joined forces with a world-renowned scholar to bridge that gap, first in their ground-breaking class at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and now in the pages of this book. In Inside the Situation Room, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and Dr. Keren Yarhi-Milo bring together insights from more than a dozen leading policymakers and scholars so readers can experience a masterclass in global policy and crisis decision-making. The book includes everything from the psychology and mechanics of threat assessment; the role of advisors; the effects of group think and trust; real-life stories of diplomatic efforts and covert operations; and the impact of public opinion.
Inside the Situation Room offers an insider look at how decisions are actually made, what theoretical insights might be useful to current and future generations of leaders, and where research still needs to be done. This book will serve as the first step toward a new standard engagement: more active, iterative collaboration among two communities—scholars and practitioners—who have a great deal to contribute and learn from one another.
