David Mitchell

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations

Professor Mitchell teaches in both the Department of International Relations and the Department of Political Science.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Syracuse University
  • B.A. in Political Science, University of Michigan

Research and Teaching Interests

  • international politics
  • comparative foreign policy
  • national security
  • foreign policy decision making

Courses Typically Offered

  • POLS 170 - International Politics
  • POLS 271 - American Foreign Policy
  • POLS 276 - Comparative Foreign Policy

Professor Mitchell has published on the influence of international and domestic factors on individual decision making in the context of negotiations. He has also published on the implications of variations in presidential leadership style on the formulation of policy and the outcomes of the decision making process. This research finds that variations in choice of advisory structure and the degree of centralization exercised by the president impacts who is involved in the decision making process, the nature of deliberations, the ability of advisors to influence the process, and the way in which disagreements are resolved. The resulting process policy shapes the outcomes produced by the president and advisors.

Professor Mitchell is currently drawing on his research on US foreign policy in order to address a range of questions regarding foreign policy decision-making in India. He is particularly interested in identifying the leadership style of Indian prime ministers and how these differences have had implications for the conduct and direction of Indian foreign policy.

Curriculum Vitae

Selected Publications

Making Foreign Policy: Presidential Management of the Foreign Policy Decision-Making Process (Ashgate Publishing 2005)

"National Security Policy and Politics, Cold War - Present" American Political Culture encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO (2015).

“Does Context Matter? Advisory Systems and the Management of the Foreign Policy Decision Making Process.” December 2010, Presidential Studies Quarterly

“Anatomy of Failure: Bush’s Decision Making Process and the Iraq War.” With Tansa G. Massoud, ForeignPolicy Analysis. Volume 5, Issue 3. August 2009

“Challenge, Crisis and Change in US Foreign Policy.” International Studies Review. Volume 11, Issue 1. March 2009

“Determining Indian Foreign Policy: An Examination of Prime Ministerial Leadership Styles.” India Review. Vol. 6, Number 4. 2007

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