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When biased advice is a good thing: Information and foreign policy decision making

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  • Marissa Myers

Abstract

The conventional wisdom holds that good advisors are unbiased and neutral. Calvert's (1985) rational choice model of political advice challenges this view. Following Calvert, I argue that biased sources of information are useful to decision makers because an unexpected recommendation from a biased advisor alerts a decision maker to the deleterious consequences of a policy proposal, providing ex ante information that a neutral advisor cannot. Such advice is particularly salient to political leaders who are held accountable for foreign policy mistakes. In this paper, I apply a model of political advice, assess its implications for foreign policy decision making, and analyze three historical examples of foreign policy decision making that illustrate the impact of biased advice.

Suggested Citation

  • Marissa Myers, 1998. "When biased advice is a good thing: Information and foreign policy decision making," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 379-403, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ginixx:v:24:y:1998:i:4:p:379-403
    DOI: 10.1080/03050629808434936
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