Apply ONE theory of the causes of political conflicts to ONE real-world case of conflict to help explain why/how the conflict occurred. Introduction While there are many theories one can draw upon to explain the background and outbreak of political conflict this paper will focus on the ‘Misperception Theory’. The prime objectives of this paper are to clearly document and explain the different facets of misperception theory, to effectively explore the various means by which decisions based on this theory can affect state policy and state welfare, and to reveal how exactly the misperception theory can aid scholars in understanding how and why conflict erupts. This paper will utilise the misperception theory to illustrate how, and why, the US and Great Britain overestimated the military pedigree and threat of the Saddam Hussein governed Iraq. Their misperception of the situation ultimately resulted in the two superpowers combining forces and invading the Gulf state in 2003. Introduction to Misperception Theory To comprehend, and clearly explain, how the 2003 US & Great Britain invasion of Iraq can be considered an example of the misperception theory, we must first understand precisely what the misperception theory entails and encompasses. It is integral we grasp how exactly misperception theory can lead to conflict and how an influential state leader can misperceive a situation/event. A common definition of misperception theory describes it as “the gap between the world as it actually exists and the world as it exists in the mind of the perceiver” (Duelfer and Dyson, 2011). This definition is however, dependent on one crucial assumption, that there is both a single objective reality and multiple subjective realities. The key differe... ... middle of paper ... ...our is then considered evidence of this malign intent. The ‘enemy image’ becomes resistant to change and extremely difficult to discredit. Therefore, information received by state leaders that is consistent with this ‘enemy image’ has to cross a much lower perceptual threshold to get the attention of the leader (Duelfer and Dyson, 2011). The subsequent consequence is that the decision-maker, usually the state leader, may then make a decision based on this information. The ‘enemy image’ has become so ingrained, and the response so automatic, that the state leader may then inadvertently misperceive the situation and consider the enemy to be posing a far greater threat than he/she actually is. President Bush fell victim to this process in his evaluation of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein and launched an invasion of Iraq on the basis of that misperception in 2003.
In the film The Fog of War, McNamara learns a number of lessons from the figures of the 20th-century American government. The film offers a view on the human side of the people entrusted to the control the United States and the way their personalities affect the state’s policies. The film provides an insight for historians and politicians into the way individuals and different personalities influence the decisions of the U.S foreign policy. The film is a focus on the fragile side of the leaders in both the mental and physical capacities. The lessons of McNamara indicate the influence of human decisions on the international relations of a nation as seen from the theories of global politics.
War is commonly defined as an armed conflict between two entities, one that dates back to the beginning of mankind’s very existence. During this time many have attempted to explain the complex nature of war, its actors, and its origins. There are two authors in particular who have made critical analysis on the topic of war within the international system, more specifically the nature of balanced power and hegemonic war and the role that perception plays in conflict. Glipin asserts that disequilibrium will result in a hegemonic war due to inferior civilizations striking falling civilizations. Whereas Jervis asserts that misperception is the driving cause of war. I argue that it is not an inferior civilization, but rather different economies
Followers of Realist school of thought argue the case of 2003 Iraq war from the standpoint of power and Security. The Bush administration’s rationale for launching a pre-emptive attack against Iraq was based on two misleading assumptions: firstly, Iraq had or was developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (along with Iran and North Korea) and secondly, that it was aiding and protecting terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda. Such a conjecture based on unsubstantiated evidence helped Bush administration conjure up a dystopian situation which justified 2003 invasion of Iraq under the pretext of “security maximization”. This explanation was given in pursuance of the realist assumption that States’ as rational actors always act in accordance with their national security interests.
First, in the long run the negative effects of a military international intervention, even if against oppressive governments, could actually outweigh the positive ones. Moreover, coercive policy could, in fact, aggravate a conflict by providing grounds for long lasting hostility, aggression, or ev...
For this interview, I have chosen a group in which for Asians overall and Vietnamese specifically, is seen as a low affinity group in which received many frown upon and disapprovals. This group is LGBT. LGBT is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. They are defined as people who are sexually attracted by other people of the same sex. History has shown that gay people have always been discriminated against; also they have been victims of violence and harassment in our own society because of their sexual orientation. Even in the Bible, Jesus asked the mankind to have children and since gay people don't have the ability to reproduce, therefore, homosexuality is considered an act of sin. This is why I chose this group seeing that they are considered low affinity to not only my group but to other groups as well.
Despite the movements that gay people have made in order to achieve equal rights, gays all over the world are often remain in alienated position in society. Misconceptions are views or opinions that are based on false accusations and misunderstandings that can cause negative effects to those that are surrounded by them. Misconceptions are powerful misjudgment that can cause even the friendliest of people to shy away from those enclosed by these far-fetched yet believable rumors. Stereotypes are used to categorize groups under the idea that most if not all of them behave, look, or even dress a certain way. Like many groups who have a wide array of stereotypes and misconceptions, one of them happens to be gay men. There 's a large belief that
The United States of America asked Iraq several times to leave Kuwait, but this led to nowhere (1). There are reasons to which led to this dreadful action. The Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein said that the surplus production of the oil is one of the reasons that made me conquer Kuwait, which...
American policy was conflicted on multiple fronts. There was a high-perceived threat, but the means devised to cope with it fell short o...
Throughout our lives, we make assumptions based on our observations of the world around up and things we hear or are told. These assumptions shape the way we view the world; however, they are not always accurate. It goes without saying that students will then bring these previous conceptions with them to the classroom. Oftentimes these errors will have a negative impact on the learner’s education and it can be a lot of work to unprogram these misconceptions. The example of a misconception held by high school students that this paper will focus on is that sugars are not the same thing as carbohydrates. One misconception found by Mann and Treagust (2010, p. 149) that is held by students from year eight to year twelve is “if we want lots of energy…
Through the experiences of the narcissistic Connie in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” Joyce Oates conveys an eye-opening lesson about perception. The lesson depicts that an individual’s judgment can be blinded by ignorance or vanity; hence, the significance of a clear and correct perception is crucial to understanding the truths of reality. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Benn?,” Connie, a fifteen year old girl, struggles to distinguish and separate truths from her own illusions. Oates uses Connie’s choices, actions, and interactions with other characters to portray the flaws in her understanding of herself, the adult world, and reality.
The US government claimed that it had raided Iraq to prevent Saddam Hussein from using weapons of mass destruction. However, in the1990s, United Nations weapons inspectors went to Iraq and almost completely dismantled the major weapons factories and destroyed nearly all the country’s biological and chemical weapons and long range missiles. Yet, also at the same time, the US had supported the nuclear-armed dictator of Pakistan. This leads people to think that the US intervention was more than just preventing Saddam Hussein. According to Gareth Evans, President of the International Crisis Group, Iraq did not pose an apparent threat. He claimed that the Iraqi threat required intent and obvious danger. In addition to that, the US claims that there had been possible ties between al Qaeda and Iraq. There actually had been reports that contacts really occurred with Bin Laden, however they do not appear to have resulted in collaborative relationship due to two senior Bin Laden associates denying any link had exi...
Julius Caesar Theme Analysis Essay. Misinterpretations are at the root of all tragedies, especially Julius Caesar. They have severe consequences, like the loss of innocent lives, conflicts between friends, all the way to our inability to discern our friends from our foes. Each of these misinterpreting concepts is demonstrated in Julius Caesar. Cinna the poet’s death, Brutus’s betrayal, and Cassius’s misunderstanding of Titinius’s death are all scenarios that portray the theme of misinterpretation and its severe consequences.
Thesis: The invasion of Iraq by America was the start of the war, but what made it a crisis is the fact that America tried
Identify the different conflict episodes that exist in this case? Who was in conflict with whom? 3 points
My people will s...ay "matambayi baya bata"; which is literally saying those who ask will never get lost. And that is why I like people who are not too ashamed or egotistical to ask when they are lost as to why certain things happen or why they didn't, people who ask to know what happen and what didn't. Because only then will they know what actually happen.