Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

The Interface Between Beliefs and Behavior

Henry Kissinger's Operational Code and the Vietnam War

Bibliographic Data

ID6285553
AuthorsStephen G Walker (0000-0003-4989-8213, Department of Political Science Arizona State University, corresponding author)
Year1977
Volume21
Issue1
Pages129-168
Publication date1977-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/002200277702100107
OpenAlexW1534440879
LanguageEN
Citations received84
References cited33

This paper examines the interface between Henry Kissinger's operational code and his bargaining behavior during the Vietnam conflict. Kissinger's position at the pinnacle of the American foreign affairs hierarchy, amidst the existence of competing policy recommendations, may be regarded as necessary conditions to test the impact of his operational code upon American foreign policy. A comparison of his academic writings and his conduct of the Vietnam negotiations reveals a congruent relationship between his operational code and his bargaining behavior. Taken collectively, the code's components approximate game theory's “prisoner's dilemma” description of politics and specify a “general preference relation” that prescribes a consistent, predictable, metagame repertoire of responses

Code (set theory · Dilemma · Economics · Epistemology · Foreign policy · Game theory · Hierarchy · Interface (matter · Law and economics · Mathematical economics · Microeconomics · Negotiation · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Position (finance · Preference · Prisoner's dilemma · Programming language · Relation (database · Test (biology · Computer Science · Defense, Military, and Policy Studies · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Political Conflict and Governance

  • Role Identities and the Operational Codes of Political Leaders

    Stephen G Walker•Advances in political psychology•2004

  • Is There Method in Our Madness? Ways of Assessing Cognition in International Relations

    Myles D Young, Michael D Young et al.•Mershon International Studies…•1998

  • Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making

    Open Access•Alex Mintz, Karl Derouen et al.•Understanding Foreign Policy…•2010

  • Foreign Policy Analysis Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

    Valerie M Hudson, Christopher S Vore•Mershon International Studies…•1995

  • The operational code approach to profiling political leaders

    Stephen Benedict Dyson, Matthew J Parent•Intelligence & National Security•2018

  • Henry Kissinger's implicit theory of personality

    Open Access•Southworth Wells Swede, Philip E Tetlock•Journal of Personality•1986

  • The Operational Codes of U.S. Presidents and Secretaries of State

    Stephen G Walker, Lawrence S Falkowski•Political Psychology•1984

  • The Political Universe of Lyndon B. Johnson and His Advisors

    Open Access•Stephen G Walker, Mark Schafer•Political Psychology•2000

  • Leadership Styles and War and Peace Policies in the Spanish–Basque Conflict

    Open Access•Adrián Tarín Sanz, José Manuel Rivas•Social Sciences•2018

  • Failure after 1441

    Open Access•B Gregory Marfleet, Colleen Miller•Foreign Policy Analysis•2005

  • Binary Role Theory and Modeling the Superpower Confrontation in Ukraine

    Open Access•Stephen G Walker, Akan Malici•Foreign Policy Analysis•2025

  • Germans as Venutians

    Open Access•Akan Malici•Foreign Policy Analysis•2006

  • Presidential Personality

    Open Access•Maryann E Gallagher, Susan Hannah Allen•Foreign Policy Analysis•2013

  • Individuals in Securitization

    Open Access•Alexander Schotthöfer•Foreign Policy Analysis•2024

  • Foreign Policy Analysis

    Open Access•Valerie M Hudson•Foreign Policy Analysis•2005

  • The Operational Codes of Pacific Island Countries’ Leaders

    Open Access•Bariş Kesgin•Foreign Policy Analysis•2023

  • Personality and Foreign Policy

    Open Access•Stephen Benedict Dyson•Foreign Policy Analysis•2006

  • The Shape of Elite Opinion on U.S. Foreign Policy, 1992 to 2004

    Open Access•Chris Dolan•Politics & Policy•2008

  • Singapore's foreign policy beliefs as ‘Abridged Realism’

    Alan Chong•International Relations of the…•2006

  • Turkey’s Erdoğan

    Open Access•Bariş Kesgin•Turkish Studies•2019

  • Foreign Policy Analysis and Globalization

    Open Access•Douglas C Foyle, Douglas Foyle•International Studies Review•2003

  • Science, Empiricism, and Tolerance in the Study of Foreign Policymaking

    Open Access•Mark Schafer•International Studies Review•2003

  • Foreign Policy Analysis in the Twenty-First Century

    Open Access•Juliet Kaarbo•International Studies Review•2003

  • Foreign Policymaking and Group Dynamics

    Open Access•Jean A Garrison•International Studies Review•2003

  • Crisis Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis

    Open Access•Eric K Stern, Eric Stern•International Studies Review•2003

  • Foreign Policy Analysis and Globalization

    Open Access•Jean A Garrison•International Studies Review•2003

  • The Poliheuristic Research Program

    Open Access•David J Brulé, David Brulé•International Studies Review•2008

  • A foreign policy analysis perspective on After Victory

    Open Access•Juliet Kaarbo•The British Journal of Politics…•2018

  • Leadership Style and War and Peace Policies in the Context of Armed Conflict

    José Manuel Rivas, Adrián Tarín Sanz et al.•Problems of Post-Communism•2016

  • A New Perspective on the Foreign Policy Views of American Opinion Leaders in the Cold War and Post-Cold War Eras

    Open Access•Jerel A Rosati, Michael W Link et al.•Political Research Quarterly•1998

  • Taking Matters into Their Own Hands

    Open Access•Maryann E Gallagher, Bethany Blackstone•Presidential Studies Quarterly•2015

  • A Cognitive‐Psychodynamic Perspective to Understanding Secretary of State Cyrus Vance's Worldview

    Open Access•Melchiore J Laucella•Presidential Studies Quarterly•2004

  • Attitudes towards an existence conflict

    Yehudit Auerbach, Hemda Ben‐Yehuda•International Interactions•1987

  • Information inconsistency and the cognitive algebra of foreign policy decision making

    Nehemia Geva, J Mark Skorick•International Interactions•1999

  • Explaining groupthink

    Mark Schafer•International Interactions•1999

  • Toward Appropriate Peace Research

    Open Access•Juargen Dedrlng•Peace & Change•1981

  • Drawing policy implications from the ‘Operational Code’ of a ‘new’ political actor

    Open Access•Stephen Benedict Dyson•Policy Sciences•2001

  • Cassius Dio’s Agrippa-Maecenas Debate

    Eric Adler•The American Journal of Philology•2012

  • Psychological Influences on the Policy Choices of Secretaries of State and Foreign Ministers

    Open Access•Scott Crichlow•Cooperation and Conflict•2005

  • Do Individual and Group Beliefs Matter

    Open Access•Bertjan Verbeek•Cooperation and Conflict•1994

  • Foreign Policy Makers, Personality Attributes, and Interviews

    Karen Rasler, Karen A Rasler et al.•International Studies Quarterly•1980

  • The Operational Codes of Fidel Castro and Kim Il Sung

    Open Access•Akan Malici, Johnna Malici•Political Psychology•2005

  • Images in International Relations

    Richard K Herrmann, Richard Herrmann et al.•International Studies Quarterly•1997

  • Beliefs, Values, and Strategic Choice

    Richard K Herrmann, Richard Herrmann et al.•The Journal of Politics•2004

  • The Role of Cognition in U.S. Foreign Policy toward Southern Africa

    Helen E Purkitt, James W Dyson•Political Psychology•1986

  • Issues in Assessing Psychological Characteristics at a Distance

    Open Access•Mark Schafer•Political Psychology•2000

  • Toward a Reformulation of the Theory of Mutual Deterrence

    Frank C Zagare•International Studies Quarterly•1985

  • Systematic Procedures for Operational Code Analysis

    Stephen G Walker, Mark Schafer et al.•International Studies Quarterly•1998

  • Foreign Policy as Social Construction

    Roxanne Lynn Doty•International Studies Quarterly•1993

  • Who Makes Foreign Policy Decisions and How

    Margaret G Hermann, Charles F Hermann•International Studies Quarterly•1989

  • The Motivational Foundations of Political Belief Systems

    Stephen G Walker•International Studies Quarterly•1983

  • Foreign Policy Decisionmakers As Practical-Intuitive Historians

    Yaacov Y I Vertzberger•International Studies Quarterly•1986

  • The Kissinger Years

    Harvey Starr•International Studies Quarterly•1980

  • Presidential Succession and the Cold War

    William J Dixon, William G Dixon et al.•The Journal of Politics•1992

  • Prime Minister Leadership Styles in Foreign Policy Decision‐Making

    Open Access•Juliet Kaarbo, Julie Kaarbo•Political Psychology•1997

  • The "Inherent Bad Faith Model" Reconsidered

    Douglas T Stuart, Douglas Stuart et al.•Political Psychology•1981

  • Birth Order of World Leaders

    Valerie M Hudson•Political Psychology•1990

  • Constraint Respecters, Constraint Challengers, and Crisis Decision Making in Democracies

    Open Access•Jonathan W Keller•Political Psychology•2005

  • Presidential Beliefs and Foreign Policy Decision-Making

    J Philipp Rosenberg•Political Psychology•1986

  • Idealism or Pragmatism? An Operational Code Analysis of Yitzhak Rabin andShimon Peres

    Open Access•Scott Crichlow•Political Psychology•1998

  • Building Communities, Bridging Gaps

    Open Access•Andrew Bennett•Political Psychology•2008

  • Extending the Three‐ and Four‐Headed Eagles

    Open Access•Jerel A Rosati, Jerel Rosati et al.•Political Psychology•1997

  • Intelligence Failure and Need for Cognitive Closure

    Open Access•Uri Bar–joseph, Arie W Kruglanski•Political Psychology•2003

  • Psychology, Foreign Policy, and International Relations Theory

    Brian Ripley, B D Ripley•Political Psychology•1993

  • Moral portraits

    Open Access•Brent Mills•Political Psychology•2025

  • The Cognitive Structure of Peacemaking

    Zeev Maoz, Allison Astorino•Political Psychology•1992

  • Indira Gandhi

    Open Access•Blema S Steinberg•Political Psychology•2005

  • The Evolution of Operational Code Analysis

    Stephen G Walker•Political Psychology•1990

  • When Public Statements Reveal Private Beliefs

    Open Access•Jonathan Renshon•Political Psychology•2009

  • An Agenda for Political Psychology

    Janice Gross Stein•Political Psychology•1994

  • The Role of Belief Systems and Schemas in Foreign Policy Decision-Making

    Deborah Welch Larson•Political Psychology•1994

  • Legislators' Personality Traits and Congressional Support for Free Trade

    Open Access•Scott Crichlow•Journal of Conflict Resolution•2002

  • Discord and Collaboration between Allies

    Open Access•Akan Malici•Journal of Conflict Resolution•2005

  • When Will They Ever Learn

    Open Access•Russell J Leng•Journal of Conflict Resolution•1983

  • The Cognitive Calculus of Foreign Policy Decision Making

    Open Access•Nehemia Geva, James Mayhar et al.•Journal of Conflict Resolution•2000

  • The causal effects of ideas on policies

    Open Access•Albert S Yee•International Organization•1996

  • Transcending rationalism and constructivism

    Open Access•Kai He, Huiyun Feng•European Political Science Review•2015

  • The Power of Perceptions in Foreign-Policy Decision Making

    Richard Herrmann•American Journal of Political…•1986

  • An Operational Code Analysis of China’s National Defense White Papers

    Open Access•Yi Edward Yang, Jonathan W Keller et al.•Journal of Chinese Political…•2018

  • Power Politics in Foreign Policy

    Open Access•Juliet Kaarbo•European Journal of International…•1998

  • Prospect theory, operational code analysis, and risk-taking behaviour

    Huiyun Feng, Kai He•Contemporary Politics•2018

  • Empathizing with Rogue Leaders

    Open Access•Akan Malici, Allison L Buckner•Journal of Peace Research•2008

  • An Alternative Paradigm To State Rationality in Foreign Policy

    G Hossein Razi•The Western Political Quarterly•1988

  • Reagan and the Russians

    Open Access•Russell J Leng•American Political Science Review•1984

  • The psychological dimension of foreign policy.

    Joseph De Rivera•The psychological dimension of…•1968

  • The Structure of Science

    Ernest Nagel, David Hawkins•American Journal of Physics•1961

  • The Operational Code of the Politburo

    Nathan Constantin Leites•The Operational Code of the…•2007

  • Essence of Decision

    Graham T Allison•Essence of Decision•1972

  • The Logic of Scientific Discovery

    Karl R Popper, Karl Popper et al.•Physics Today•1959

  • Foreign Policy Decision Making

    Open Access•Emilia Yustiningrum•Explaining Indonesia’s Foreign…•2024

  • The Psychological Dimension of Foreign Policy, by Joseph H. de Rivera

    Open Access•Arnold A Rogow•Political Science Quarterly•1970

  • A Map for the Analysis of Personality and Politics

    Open Access•M Brewster Smith•Journal of Social Issues•1968

  • Limited War in the Nuclear Age

    J C Arnell, Morton H Halperin•International Journal Canada s…•1963

  • Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy

    Noble Frankland•International Affairs•1958

  • Kissinger's Apparat

    John P Leacacos•Foreign Policy•1971

  • How Kissinger Did It

    Tad Szulc•Foreign Policy•1974

  • Can One Man Do

    I M Destler•Foreign Policy•1971

  • Bureaucratic Politics

    Open Access•Graham T Allison, Morton H Halperin•World Politics•1972

  • The Comparative Study of Foreign Policy

    Open Access•Charles F Hermann•World Politics•1968

  • Cooperative Behavior in Dyads

    Open Access•Katherine Garner, Morton Deutsch•Journal of Conflict Resolution•1974

  • Perception of Opponent's Motives and Cooperation in a Mixed-Motive Game

    Open Access•Sanford L Braver, Bruce G Barnett et al.•Journal of Conflict Resolution•1974

  • Wash-In," "Wash-Out," and Systemic Effects in Extended Prisoner's Dilemma

    Open Access•Kenneth W Terhune•Journal of Conflict Resolution•1974

  • Ratios of force and escalation in a game situation

    Open Access•Jack E Vincent, Edward W Schwerin•Journal of Conflict Resolution•1971

  • Prisoner's Dilemma" and "Chicken" Models in International Politics

    Glenn H Snyder•International Studies Quarterly•1971

  • Patterns of Political Interaction

    Robert Jackson, Robert M Jackson•International Studies Quarterly•1973

  • "The "Operational Code

    Alexander L George•International Studies Quarterly•1969

  • Crisis Management

    Amos Perlmutter•International Studies Quarterly•1975

  • Cognitive Process and Foreign Policy Decision-Making

    Michael J Shapiro, G Matthew Bonham•International Studies Quarterly•1973

  • The Viet Nam Negotiations

    Henry A Kissinger, Henry Kissinger•Foreign Affairs•1969

  • Asia after Viet Nam

    Richard M Nixon•Foreign Affairs•1967

  • The Game of Chicken

    Open Access•Anatol Rapoport, Albert M Chammah•American Behavioral Scientist•1966

  • The Case for Multiple Advocacy in Making Foreign Policy

    Open Access•Alexander L George•American Political Science Review•1972

  • The Korean Decision

    Ernest B Gilman, Ernest Gilman et al.•Pacific Affairs•1968

Unique citing works84
Citations per year1,83
Citation span1980 - 2025 (46)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 84

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae