ABSTRACT

The rational strategic actor approach to analyzing decision making is a particular reading of Graham Allison rational actor model. Allison's rational actor model assumes that events in the international arena are the purposive acts of nations behaving as unitary decision-making and decision-implementing entities. Modifying the rational actor approach requires, first, stressing the importance of strategic calculation in the strict military sense in Soviet strategic arms decisions. In pointing to the problems in utilizing Soviet doctrine as a means to discern Soviet strategic values, a further modification of the rational actor model is suggested. If the rational actor approach is to be used effectively to explain Soviet strategic decisions, the Soviet defense decision-making environment must be taken into account. Transforming Allison's rational actor approach into a rational strategic actor perspective imposes new burdens on the analyst. It calls for focusing on strategic calculation in the strict military sense of the term.