ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the assumptions and propositions implicit in the literature on weapon decisions utilizing the bureaucratic politics approach. It aims to determine whether or not this approach is an efficacious device for understanding the research, development, production, and deployment of large-scale weapon programs, such as the MX. The chapter discusses that approach to better understand a decision like MX, i.e., one which requires extensive resources and portends vast socioeconomic and environmental disruption. Bureaucratic politics analysts employ a set of concentric circles to graphically depict the set of relationships that exist in the national security policy process. Bureaucratic politics analysts maintain that strategic values are of secondary significance to bureaucratic participants in procurement decision making. Strategic issues operate only as a mechanism that reinforces the interest in a particular weapon system and supports the missions orientation of a military service subunit.
