Groupthink and the Gulf Crisis

‘Groupthink’ refers to a situation in which decision makers seek to achieve concurrence among group members more than to make calculated, carefully considered decisions. In this study, the theory is explored in the case of the 1990–91 Persian Gulf crisis, with particular emphasis on President George...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of political science 2003-07, Vol.33 (3), p.419-442
Main Author: YETIV, STEVE A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advisors
Decision Making
Decision theory
Dissent
Economic sanctions
Gangs
Government crises
Group Decision Making
Group Dynamics
Insulation
International agreements
International politics
Middle East
Military intervention
National security
Persian Gulf War
Policy making
Political crises
Political science
Political theory
Politics
Presidents
Research Article
Territorial disputes
War
War economics
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Summary:‘Groupthink’ refers to a situation in which decision makers seek to achieve concurrence among group members more than to make calculated, carefully considered decisions. In this study, the theory is explored in the case of the 1990–91 Persian Gulf crisis, with particular emphasis on President George Bush's inner circle. Using rare interviews and primary sources, it is revealed that some important conditions of the theory were present that affected how decisions were made, and it is explained theoretically why the outcome was none the less positive, contrary to what the theory would seem to predict.
ISSN:0007-1234
1469-2112
DOI:10.1017/S0007123403000231