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Foreign Policy and the Rational Public

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Y. Shapiro

    (Columbia University and NORC)

  • Benjamin I. Page

    (Northwestern University and NORC)

Abstract

American public opinion about foreign policy is neither volatile nor capricious. Contrary to much conventional wisdom, collective opinion has tended to be rather stable. When it has changed, it has done so by responding in rational ways to international and domestic events that have been reported and interpreted by the mass media and by policymakers and other elites. The public has not always successfully judged the best interests of the United States or that of people elsewhere, nor have elites and the media always reported truthfully and interpreted correctly. Nevertheless, we maintain that Americans, as a collective body, have done well with whatever information has been provided, and that they have formed and changed their policy preferences in a reasonable manner. This conclusion is based upon analysis, both quantitative and historical, of a comprehensive set of data on foreign policy opinion changes in the United States from the 1930s to the 1980s.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Y. Shapiro & Benjamin I. Page, 1988. "Foreign Policy and the Rational Public," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 32(2), pages 211-247, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:32:y:1988:i:2:p:211-247
    DOI: 10.1177/0022002788032002001
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Page, Benjamin I. & Shapiro, Robert Y. & Dempsey, Glenn R., 1987. "What Moves Public Opinion?," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 81(1), pages 23-43, March.
    2. Page, Benjamin I. & Shapiro, Robert Y., 1983. "Effects of Public Opinion on Policy," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 77(1), pages 175-190, March.
    3. Tom Smith, 1982. "General liberalism and social change in post World War II America: A summary of trends," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-28, January.
    4. Davies, James C., 1952. "Some Relations between Events and Attitudes," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(3), pages 777-789, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Claes H. De Vreese & Anna Kandyla, 2009. "News Framing and Public Support for a Common Foreign and Security Policy," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47, pages 453-481, June.
    2. Christopher A. Simon & Michael C. Moltz, 2019. "Immigrant Citizens and Racial Resentment in International Policy Perspective: The Role of Nativity and Racial Resentment in Shaping Support for US Foreign Assistance Expenditure, 2002–2016," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 62(1), pages 186-195, December.
    3. Paxton, Pamela & Knack, Stephen, 2008. "Individual and country-level factors affecting support for foreign aid," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4714, The World Bank.

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