Graham T. Allison
Encyclopedia
Graham Tillett Allison, Jr. (born 23 March 1940) is an American
political scientist and professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard. He is renowned for his contribution in the late 1960s and early 1970s to the bureaucratic analysis of decision making
, especially during times of crisis. His book Remaking Foreign Policy: The Organizational Connection, co-written with Peter Szanton, was published in 1976 and had some influence on the foreign policy of the administration of President Jimmy Carter
which took office in early 1977. Since the 1970s, Allison has also been a leading analyst of U.S. national security
and defense policy, with a special interest in nuclear weapons and terrorism
.
, Allison graduated from Harvard University
in 1962 with an A.B.
, completed a B.A.
and M.A. at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar in 1964, then returned to Harvard to earn a PhD
degree in political science in 1968.
Allison has spent his entire academic career at Harvard, as an assistant professor (1968), associate professor (1970), then full professor (1972) in the department of government. He was dean
of the John F. Kennedy School of Government
from 1977 to 1989, during which time the School increased in size by 400% and its endowment increased by 700%. Allison is presently Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, and Director for the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
.
Allison has also been a fellow of the Center for Advanced Studies (1973–1974); consultant for the RAND Corporation; member of the Council on Foreign Relations
; member of the visiting committee on foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution
(1972–1977); and a member of the Trilateral Commission
(1974–1984). He was among those mentioned to succeed David Rockefeller
as President of the Council on Foreign Relations
. In 2009 he was awarded the NAS Award for Behavior Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear War
from the National Academy of Sciences
.
since working as an advisor and consultant to the Pentagon
in the 1960s. He has been a member of the Secretary of Defense
's Defense Policy Board from 1985. He was a special advisor to the Secretary of Defense
(1985–1987) and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy and Plans
(1993–1994), where he coordinated strategy and policy towards the states of the former Soviet Union
. President Bill Clinton
awarded Allison the Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, for "reshaping relations with Russia
, Ukraine
, Belarus
, and Kazakhstan
to reduce the former Soviet nuclear arsenal." He was also an informal advisor to Michael Dukakis
's 1988 presidential campaign.
: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (1971), in which he developed two new theoretical paradigms - an organizational process model and a bureaucratic politics model - to compete with the then-prevalent approach of understanding foreign policy
decision making using a rational actor model. Essence of Decision swiftly revolutionized the study of decision making in political science and beyond.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political scientist and professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard. He is renowned for his contribution in the late 1960s and early 1970s to the bureaucratic analysis of decision making
Decision making
Decision making can be regarded as the mental processes resulting in the selection of a course of action among several alternative scenarios. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion of choice.- Overview :Human performance in decision terms...
, especially during times of crisis. His book Remaking Foreign Policy: The Organizational Connection, co-written with Peter Szanton, was published in 1976 and had some influence on the foreign policy of the administration of President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
which took office in early 1977. Since the 1970s, Allison has also been a leading analyst of U.S. national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
and defense policy, with a special interest in nuclear weapons and terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
.
Biography
A native of Charlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Allison graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1962 with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, completed a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A. at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar in 1964, then returned to Harvard to earn a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree in political science in 1968.
Allison has spent his entire academic career at Harvard, as an assistant professor (1968), associate professor (1970), then full professor (1972) in the department of government. He was dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
from 1977 to 1989, during which time the School increased in size by 400% and its endowment increased by 700%. Allison is presently Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, and Director for the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is a permanent research center located within the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The center's current director is political scientist Graham T. Allison....
.
Allison has also been a fellow of the Center for Advanced Studies (1973–1974); consultant for the RAND Corporation; member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
; member of the visiting committee on foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
(1972–1977); and a member of the Trilateral Commission
Trilateral Commission
The Trilateral Commission is a non-governmental, non-partisan discussion group founded by David Rockefeller in July 1973 to foster closer cooperation among the United States, Europe and Japan.-History:...
(1974–1984). He was among those mentioned to succeed David Rockefeller
David Rockefeller
David Rockefeller, Sr. is the current patriarch of the Rockefeller family. He is the youngest and only surviving child of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and the only surviving grandchild of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil. His five siblings were...
as President of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
. In 2009 he was awarded the NAS Award for Behavior Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear War
NAS Award for Behavior Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear War
The NAS Award for Behavioral Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear War is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "to recognize basic research in any field of cognitive or behavioral science that has employed rigorous formal or empirical methods, optimally a combination of these,...
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
Analyst work
Allison has been heavily involved in U.S. defense policyUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
since working as an advisor and consultant to the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
in the 1960s. He has been a member of the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
's Defense Policy Board from 1985. He was a special advisor to the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
(1985–1987) and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy and Plans
United States Assistant Secretary of Defense
Assistant Secretary of Defense is a title used for many executive positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the United States Department of Defense. Reorganization Plan No.6 of 30 June 1953 increased the number of assistant secretaries...
(1993–1994), where he coordinated strategy and policy towards the states of the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
awarded Allison the Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, for "reshaping relations with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, and Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
to reduce the former Soviet nuclear arsenal." He was also an informal advisor to Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
's 1988 presidential campaign.
Academic work
Allison is best known as a political scientist for his book Essence of DecisionEssence of Decision
Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis is an analysis, by political scientist Graham T. Allison, of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Allison used the crisis as a case study for future studies into governmental decision-making. The book became the founding study of the John F...
: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (1971), in which he developed two new theoretical paradigms - an organizational process model and a bureaucratic politics model - to compete with the then-prevalent approach of understanding foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
decision making using a rational actor model. Essence of Decision swiftly revolutionized the study of decision making in political science and beyond.
Sources
- Welch, David. 1993. "Graham Allison." In American Political Scientists: A Dictionary, eds. G. Utter and C. Lockhart. Greenwood Press.
External links
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/graham-allison/ - Graham Allison's post at HuffPo
- http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/experts/199/graham_allison.html - Graham Allison's Official Harvard Bio