LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON? A COMPARISON OF THE FOREIGN POLICIES OF GEORGE H. W. BUSH AND GEORGE W. BUSH

This article applies cognitive (i.e., leadership) and poliheuristic approaches to foreign-policy decision making to explain variances in the policies of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Juxtaposing these related approaches highlights the how and why of presidential decision making, providing a synthetic, though more cogent, understanding of foreign-policy analysis -- especially as it pertains to presidencies. The initial section of the article discusses the two theories. The following section examines important decisions via case studies - one for each administration. The final section analyzes the decisions in the context of the theories. While this article emphasizes the individual level of analysis, structural as well as domestic factors will also be discussed.