Diplomacy & Politics Glossary

A cognitive bias where individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions.

People rely too heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions, even if it is irrelevant or misleading.

The process by which a judge decides the winner of a debate round and records their decision on a ballot sheet.

Evaluating the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement to determine the most advantageous fallback option if negotiations fail.

The most advantageous course of action a party can take if negotiations fail and an agreement cannot be reached.

A theory explaining foreign policy decisions as outcomes of bargaining among government agencies with competing interests.

Systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, leading individuals to make illogical decisions or inferences.

The tendency to conserve mental energy by relying on shortcuts and heuristics rather than thorough analysis.

General agreement among delegates that allows a resolution or decision to pass without formal voting.

A method of decision-making where all delegates agree on a proposal without a formal vote, emphasizing unity.

A process in international organizations where decisions require general agreement rather than majority voting to ensure collective support.

A consensus decision reached when all but one delegate agree, allowing the committee to move forward despite a single objection.

The minimum level of agreement required among stakeholders to move forward with a decision or policy.

Presenting information by comparing alternatives to influence perception and decision-making.

The cognitive bias where initial information serves as a reference point influencing subsequent decisions and judgments.

A tool listing pros and cons of options to clarify choices during negotiation or decision-making processes.

Decisional framing shapes how choices are presented to influence perception and decision-making outcomes.

The tendency for decision-makers to be influenced by how options are presented rather than the options themselves.

Decisional paralysis occurs when an individual or group is unable to make a choice due to overwhelming options or fear of negative outcomes.

The decoy effect is a persuasion technique where the presence of a less attractive option influences choice toward a target option.

A democratic model emphasizing informed discussion and reasoning among citizens before making collective decisions.

A structured communication method using rounds of anonymous expert feedback to reach consensus in complex decision-making or stakeholder management.

The cognitive bias where people's decisions and judgments are influenced by how information is presented rather than just the facts themselves.

Albert Hirschman theorized that individuals respond to decline in organizations by exiting, voicing concerns, or remaining loyal.

Overwhelmed by excessive information or options, leading to inability to make decisions.

Qualified majority voting is a decision-making process requiring a specified threshold of weighted votes, often used in international organizations to adopt binding measures.

The tendency to focus on the most noticeable or emotionally striking information when making decisions or judgments.

The tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence.

The degree to which stakeholders are perceived as important based on their power, legitimacy, and urgency in a situation.

Continuing a behavior or endeavor because of previously invested resources, despite new evidence suggesting it is unwise.

A voting system where votes have different weights, often used in organizations to reflect member size or stake.