# The Rational Actor Model (E139)

An episode of [The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1478658863), 9 Jun 2026, 11 min.

Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/dwzfuyuup7uadv74/E139_Rational_Actor.mp3

Since at least the 1940’s, policy and strategic thinking uses the so-called rational actor model in determining what competitors and partners may do, how to respond to them, and how they may react in return. Even considering variations to that model to explain less than optimal choices by these actors, there appears to be enough irrationality by state and non-state actors to call into question whether continued use of the rational actor model is itself rational. Music: • Traditional, The Army Strings, Garryowen (Public Domain) • Copland, A. & United States Marine Band. (2000) Fanfare for the Common Man. unpublished, Washington, DC. \[Audio\] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, (Fair use for educational purposes.)

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