American Foreign Policy Opinion in 2004: Exploring Underlying Beliefs

Authors

  • Stephen E. Schier
  • Andrew Kaufman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.2007.27.0.295-317

Abstract

This analysis identifies some underlying foreign policy beliefs of Americans in 2004 and explores the impact of those beliefs upon attitudes about specific foreign policies. We find, following Wittkopf (1986, 1987, 1990), that there remains a coherence to American mass foreign policy opinion. Americans can be described as clustering into four belief sets about foreign policy— accommodationists, internationalists, isolationists and hardliners. Further, these beliefs explain variation in public responses regarding specific foreign policies, such as the proper U.S. role in world affairs, the choice of multilateral or unilateral approaches, and support of increased defense spending.

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Published

2007-01-01

Issue

Vol. 27: Winter 2006-2007

Section

Articles

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