Ideas and Methods of Cognitive Science in the Studies of International Relations and Foreign Policy

Abstract

International studies have recently witnessed a renaissance of interest in the study of decision-making patterns related to the influence of individual and group actors and the resulting need to understand their deep psychology, the nature of their incentives and motivations. Such studies update the application of behavioral and cognitive sciences in the field of international relations and foreign policy, and encourage the adaptation of the methodology of specialized disciplines to solve complex socio-political problems. The present paper is an attempt to inventory key research subject areas and related literature, as well as to demonstrate the application of existing theories to the analysis of current political issues.

Keywords

• cognitive science
• cognitive studies
• cognitive psychology
• international studies
• foreign policy analysis