Role And Influence Of Assistant To The President For National Security Affairs In US Foreign Policy Decision-making Institution

Foreign Policy Decision-making (hereafter FPDM) is an important sub-topic in International Relations. Generally speaking, study on FPDM can be categorized into studies on Decision-making process, Decision-making Institution and Decision Maker. This dissertation has conducted an in-depth analysis of National Security Advisor (hereafter NSA), a key decision maker in US FPDM, based on the findings of US, Canadian and Chinese scholars.The unique position of NSA in FPDM has given rise to his significance in FPDM process. At some point of time, NSA’s impact on the FPDM process is greater than that of Secretary of State. NSA is not only a decision maker, but also a part of decision-making institution, which makes him an ideal starting point to discuss the relations between man and institution. NSA is a key variable which influences decision making process, which makes him a useful tool to understand US FPDM process.The dissertation has taken a historical approach to give an introduction of NSAs according to their history, which is characterized by three stages-establishment, scholars and bureaucrats. The dissertation makes further analysis of their educational and social background to reveal how NSA has become the key person of US Inter-agency coordination and decision-making institution.From Neo-institutionalism’s perspective, the institution defines role and the institution has exerted impact upon NSA’s individual behavior. The study on NSA should be based on the context of National Security Council (hereafter NSC). NSC as the dominant interagency platform is a combination of multiple issues such as military, intelligence, economics and involves many governmental agencies. As this study is mainly focused on foreign policy decision-making, the US interagency decision-making institution is therefore simplified as a triangular institution between President, Secretary of State and NSA.The dissertation finds that NSA has double identity, which is created by the triangular institution. The double identity of "Personal assistant to President" and "Manager of NSC" serves as the origin of conflicts of roles of NSA. The first pair of conflicts is "policy adviser" Vs."policy broker". The second pair of conflicts is "Non bureaucrat" Vs."Bureaucrat". As to the first pair of conflicts, different NSA has different solutions. As to the second pair of conflicts, NSAs have solved it successfully through bureaucratization.President is the dominant player of the triangle. His leadership style has directly influenced the interaction between Secretary of State and NSA. There is a cooperative yet combative relation between NSA and Secretary of State under the influence of bureaucratic politics. NSAs are somehow independent, but he plays the role within the framework of triangle.The first part of this dissertation focuses on the study of NSA as decision maker and describes the history of their evolution and the tendency of bureaucratization. The second part of this dissertation focuses on the study of triangular institution, which is an innovative abstraction and conceptualization of US PFDM institution and process. The dissertation has further analyzed the impact of NSA in FPDM within the framework of triangular institution through case study.In a globalized world, a country has diverse national interest. Many countries have created National Security Council, which coordinates different governmental agencies and defends national interest at maximum. US National Security Council is undoubtedly a good example to study with when more and more countries are setting up their version of NSC. NSA is the key person of interagency decision-making institution. As long as the interagency decision-making institution is functioning, someone with similar responsibility of a NSA should be created. NSA is the destined product of ration and history. As China has established its National Security Council in2013, a study of the positive and negative roles of NSA in history and their interaction with decision-making process is therefore meaningful in practice as well.