معرفی
S.M. Amadae is a political theorist and author known for her work on rational choice theory and its historical context. She authored Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy: The Cold War Origins of Rational Choice Liberalism (2003), which examines how rational choice theory emerged from post-WWII Cold War efforts by the RAND Corporation to systematize policy decision-making. Her research critiques how this theory, developed by figures like William Riker, Kenneth Arrow, and James Buchanan, sought to defend capitalist democracy against Marxist critiques while inadvertently undermining individual liberties. She also authored Prisoners of Reason: Game Theory and Neoliberal Political Economy, analyzing neoliberalism's reliance on game theory and its implications for societal values.
Awards:
- 2004 J. David Greenstone Prize (American Political Science Association)
Research Themes:
- Historical development of rational choice theory
- Cold War intellectual history
- Neoliberalism's philosophical foundations
- Critique of utility-maximization frameworks in social sciences
Her work bridges political philosophy, history of ideas, and institutional analysis, offering a critical perspective on how abstract theoretical frameworks shape modern political and economic systems.
