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Article: Public Opinion
- Article from:
- Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Public Opinion
Melvin Small
The public's role in the American foreign policy process is a controversial subject. Generations of diplomats, political theorists, and historians have argued about the nature of the elusive opinion policy relationship. They
have been concerned about the abilities of American leaders to operate according to democratic precepts in a pluralistic international system often dominated by autocratic powers.
In arguing for greater authority in foreign affairs for the proposed new Senate in the
Federalist Papers,
Alexander Hamilton saw the senior house of the U.S. Congress as serving as a defense to the people against their own temporary errors and ...