Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Decisions

The data analysed here came from a comprehensive survey of Canadian voters' and leaders' opinions regarding war and peace. The data reported here relate only to foreign policy issues, specifically, attitudes towards nuclear weapons, conventional forces, co existence policy, the United Nations and foreign aid.The paper argues that public opinion can and does affect government policy, but that the 'public' is not a unity, nor are all segments equally influential. Thus, the subjects of the study comprised the following groups: highly influential leaders, 48 businessmen, 48 labour leaders, and 48 Members of Parliament; national sample of 1,000 adults, divided into English-Canadians, French-Canadians, and 'Informed Public' (those most educated and most knowledgeable about foreign affairs). The attitudes of the groups are compared and are analysed from the perspective of pressures and cross-pressures exerted upon government. The attitudes are also related to actual government policy in the same areas and an attempt is made to assess the role public opinion may have played in decisions.