Various scholars have conducted research to determine the linkages between public opinion and the conduct of United States foreign. Most of the findings have established that the public opinion gas negligible influence over foreign policy choices. The public is mainly interested in the formulation of domestic policies that affect that directly affect their lives. Exert influence over domestic policy by either threatening incumbent leaders to deter them from choosing domestic policies that the public dislikes. Another mechanism the public can use in influencing domestic policies is by voting for leaders who have appealing domestic policies. When it comes to setting the foreign policy agenda, internationally oriented business leaders have more significant influence, followed by experts and lastly the general public. Public opinion is less informed and highly volatile, the public is less interested in foreign affairs hence have limited influence on the conduct of foreign policies, and most of the policies formulated at the executive level.
The mass public of American population has traditional wisdom with little understanding of international affairs. Therefore, most of the opinions they present tend to be highly volatile thereby providing unstable foundations for enacting sound foreign policies. The uncertainty and complexity of global problems make policymakers to rely on knowledge-based experts for advice rather than public opinion. Moreover, the volatility in beliefs, political ideology, and political culture generated by public opinion may raise troubling questions about the bias of representation toward particularistic views. Such questions derail the process of formulating foreign policies. Political experts and legislative officials with critical resources and foreign policy authority usually bargain on behalf of the interests of the public groups they represent.
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The second reason why public opinion has a limited impact on foreign is that the general public usually has little interest in foreign matters. It takes years or even decades for foreign policies to be made. The general public usually finds it difficult and time-consuming keeping up with international developments that occur in different parts of the world. As a result, many Americans feel disconnected to issues concerning foreign policy decisions compared to domestic policy issues. United States policymakers are therefore given the responsibility to make foreign policies that the United States prefers and those that are supportive of the country’s overall goals. Apparatus used to shape the foreign policy of the United States include the State Department and the Security Council.
The executive branch of the government usually develops concrete decisions that affect foreign policies. Officials of the executive branch are less responsive and less sensitive to public opinion compared to officials in the House of Representatives. Their unresponsiveness results from the fact that they are indirectly elected and insulated from the general public by the longer terms they spend in the office. At times, the executive officials develop informed foreign policies that will benefit the United States regardless of public opinion, therefore, to distance themselves from public view because the public is usually uninformed.
Additionally, the general public is usually responsive to leaders who might misguide them to achieve their short-term political ambitions rather future political stability of the United States government. Officials of the executive branch such as the president have the responsibility formulate Acts or foreign policies that are against public opinion. The United States foreign policy is therefore not democratic. For example, President Bush formulated the ‘Bush Doctrine.’ The doctrine asserted that it was justifiable and feasible for the United States to have unilateral action directly targeted at its enemies. The doctrines also stated that as the world’s remaining superpower, the United States had a vital role in spreading democracy to create security conditions that will provide beneficial outcomes to itself and its allies.
