Public Attitudes toward Key Foreign Policy Events

Abstract

This study considers the attitudes of Americans toward contemporary foreign affairs. It links these opinions to the literature and theory regarding public opinion and foreign policy that have developed over the last several decades. Based on the underlying attitudes identified in this literature, measures were operationalized to describe Americans with differing opinions about the means of achieving foreign policy goals. These measures were used in a series of surveys conducted in 1986 focusing on foreign affairs events. Public opinion on these events is examined in light of the fundamental attitude variations identified and implications are drawn regarding the challenges of building any type of public opinion foreign policy consensus. It appears that an overarching foreign policy opinion consensus is impossible. Rather, the makeup of public opinion majorities will vary from issue to issue.