This volume stems from the Conference on Cognitive Process Models of Foreign Policy Decision-Making held at the Richardson Institute for Conflict and Peace Research in London from March 17-24, 1973. We extend our gratitude to Michael Nicholson, the Institute's Director, for hosting the event. The Conference and the subsequent publication of the papers received support from the Mathematical Social Sciences Board (MSSB), funded by a National Science Foundation grant administered by the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. Special thanks are due to Hayward Alker, Jr. and William H. Riker of the MSSB for their assistance and encouragement. The cover features a cognitive map generated from our computer simulation of foreign policy decision-making, thanks to Robert Axelrod and Gary Raffel of the University of Michigan. The papers included reflect a range of perspectives on foreign policy thinking and decision-making. While there are diverse viewpoints, certain notable similarities among the contributions can be identified, setting them apart from other approaches. The introduction by G. Matthew Bonham and Michael J. Shapiro sets the stage for this exploration of thought and action in foreign policy.
