There is cooperation, but it is flimsy and fallible. So the history most assuredly points to Classical strategists, with repeated play Prisoner s Dilemma games. One might make the argument that Prospect theory is more in line with the history of the Middle East. However, if we take a careful look at some of the tenets of Prospect theory, we will see that they do not fit this case. Prospect theory starts with the assumption that people are acting from a basement of fear rather than a window of opportunity.
History seems to say the opposite.
Even Israel s invasion of Lebanon can be seen as opportunist. The Prospect theorist might retort that the reason Israel bombed the nuclear reactor was because they feared it. There probably is little doubt that Israel feared the Iraqi nuclear reactor, but if they had been acting alone the Prospect theorists lines of thinking they would tried to have negotiated with the Iraqis about the reactor not used the first opportunity they saw to fly over enemy countries land and bomb the reactors. That was a very bold move on the part of Israel and it certainly did not manifest itself form the cowering, fear-ridden, paranoids that Prospect theorists seem to believe everyone to be. References Books Bickerston, Ian J., Carla L. Klousner.