An Analysis of the Predictive Ability of Political Psychological Theory: A Case Study of President Clinton’s Behavior in Bosnia

Authors

Madeline Ary

Keywords

international conflicts, foreign policy, political psychology

Abstract

Why does the U.S. sometimes choose to intervene in international conflicts? Can the political decisions of a leader be profiled? In order to address these questions, this study analyzes the case study of the Bosnian civil war and the decisions President Bill Clinton made to escalate intervention measures in the region until the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. To accomplish this analysis, the psychological theory of international relations, specifically operational code theory, will be applied. Overall, this analysis concludes that the psychological and instrumental beliefs held by President Clinton had an impact on U.S. foreign policy pertaining to Bosnia.

Recommended Citation

Ary, Madeline (2015) "An Analysis of the Predictive Ability of Political Psychological Theory: A Case Study of President Clinton’s Behavior in Bosnia," Sigma: Journal of Political and International Studies: Vol. 32, Article 10.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/sigma/vol32/iss1/10