Description
Book SynopsisIn The Rhetoric of War, Harvey Averch explores the relationship between the a priori policy models that decision makers use in war (or peace) and policy analysis, and provides cost-effective alternatives for decision makers in war or peace. The Vietnam War serves as a case study of the effectiveness of many models proposed by political scientists, historians, and policy analysts as capable of improving decision making if only decision makers were persuaded to adopt them. Averch demonstrates that whatever the method, willingness to be personally and organizationally self-critical is a necessary condition for using any policy analysis method in a serious way.
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Acknowledgments Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 Evidence and Inference Concerning Vietnam Decisionmaking Chapter 5 The Civilian Decisionmakers' Model Chapter 6 Military Model Chapter 7 Moderate and Radical Doves Chapter 8 The Tragedy of Policy Models Chapter 9 Bibliography Chapter 10 Index
