Almond–Lippmann consensus

The Almond–Lippmann consensus is a principle of political theory authored by Gabriel Almond and Walter Lippmann shortly after the Second World War. It states that public opinion is the following:

  1. it is volatile and irrational and thus a dubious basis for foreign policy;
  2. it is devoid of interest and susceptible to manipulation and thus should not be studied.[1]

The consensus was highly influential in the 1950s and 1960s but weakened following the conclusion of the Vietnam War, when it became clear that "the American public had taken a more sober and enlightened approach toward the war than the heads of government did," which led to Lippmann himself recanting.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Yuchtman-Yaar, Ephraim; Peres, Yoḥanan (2000). Between Consent and Dissent: Democracy and Peace in the Israeli Mind. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 10. Retrieved 10 November 2013.


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