Understanding War and Peace

This chapter examines the role public opinion plays in the formation of foreign policy, especially decisions for war. It first presents foundational concepts and debates about the nature of public opinion, including the conditions necessary for the public to have reasoned judgment about foreign policy, and the conditions necessary for public opinion to affect foreign policy in a democracy. It then examines a series of related issues and debates, including whether the public holds coherent opinions, how the public uses information to form opinions, the role of the media in the formation of public opinion, and whether public opinion is shaped by the spin of political elites. It explores the role of partisanship in public opinion, and tackles the normative question of whether public opinion should guide foreign policy choices. It addresses other concepts pertinent to public opinion debates, including framing, the elasticity of reality, and "rally ‘round the flag" effects. It then applies many of these concepts to a quantitative study of the effects of battlefield events and leadership rhetoric on public support for war, and a case study of public opinion during the Iraq War.