Why do rational choice institutionalists use game theory to study politics?

Rational choice institutionalists use game theory because it provides a formal mathematical framework for analyzing the mutually interdependent interactions of political actors. By modeling political life as a series of games—similar to parlor games like poker or bridge—researchers can systematically study how individuals with specific preferences and strategies interact within defined institutional structures.1

The use of game theory serves several analytical purposes:

• Modeling Strategic Interaction: It allows scholars to account for the fact that political actors must choose strategies based on their beliefs about the strategies others will choose, a concept known as reflexivity.1
• Analyzing Institutions: Institutions are viewed as the "rules of the game" that relate agents' actions to outcomes. Game theory helps explain how these rules constrain behavior and shape the opportunities available to politicians.123
• Predicting Outcomes: By identifying equilibrium solutions—such as the Nash equilibrium—theorists can predict stable collective outcomes based on the assumption that, given the actions of others, each agent is satisfied with their chosen strategy.1
• Quantifying Power: It provides tools, such as power indices, to measure how institutional rules (like voting systems) influence the actual ability of actors to affect outcomes, often revealing discrepancies between formal voting weight and real influence.4