Policy Imagery, Cognitive Change and America ’s China Policy: The Case of the Evolution of George W.Bush’s China Policy

　　Abstract: Policy imagery is shaped by the cognitive processes of decision makers on the basis of their personalities, values and world views as they receive, code, store, retain, control, compare, use and disseminate information. Policymakers generally make decisions based on policy imagery shaped by such cognitive processes. This article analyzes the factors and mechanisms which influence the evolution of cognitive imagery.It argues that changes in the international context are the most important element in shaping cognitive processes, but that they are not sufficient to explain change.International crisis and the level of agency of China’spolicy towards the United States are the most critical factors for causing information regarding changes in the international context to rapidly stimulate change in the core contexts of policy imagery. On the basis of this analysis, the author identifies three causal mechanisms of policy imagery evolution. The article concludes by using the case of the change in George W.Bush’s. China policy to analyze the each of their respective effects. 

　　About the Author:Li Shaodan is a Doctoral Student in the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University