Game theory and international relations

an evaluation of the debate

Abstract

The article examines the application of rational choice and game theory in contemporary debates within the field of international relations. An exploration of both the neo-institutionalist and neo-realist versions of the rationalist approach shows how the use of different games and models reflects alternative paradigms in international relations theory. The article discusses how the debate has evolved in the 1990s and points to some implications of the paradigmatic position of the rational choice model within the study of international relations.