The Public Studies Division of the Department of State

Abstract

C ONSIDERATION OF in the formulation of government policy is traditional in our American democracy. There have been voices in the past which advocated consultation of the public mind only in matters concerning domestic affairs. They preferred that the contemplation of the complexities of foreign policy be reserved to an enlightened elite. The development in our century of mass conscription and staggering armament costs in time of war, coupled with the use of total diplomacy involving heavy expenditures for overseas aid and a combat-ready defense force in time of peace, has laid the concept of an elite to rest. Some individuals may not yet be well informed on the facts of international life, but foreign policy has become everybody's business. As Secretary of State George Catlett Marshall said, policy-foreign or domestic-can succeed without public support. Today there is no department or agency in the government more sensi. tive to American than the Department of State. Within the Department, the major responsibility for ascertaining the character of that public opinion as it concerns the formulation and conduct of foreign policy is assigned to the Public Studies Division of the Public Affairs Area. The Division's operations determine in large measure whether or not decision-makers and policy-planners from the country-desk level to the Secretary of State and whether Foreign Service officers and United States Information Agency representatives in Washington or overseas have an adequate picture of American public opinion on any foreign policy question. Under these circumstances, an understanding of the organization of the Division and of the function of its public opinion analysts becomes of some importance.