American public opinion and U.S. foreign policy, 1982

This study consists of two surveys conducted in the United States during the final months of 1982 by the Gallup Organization. Variables measure attitudes concerning the role of the United States in the world. Issues include the relationship between domestic and foreign policy priorities, the appropriate response to the increasing diplomatic and political as well as military reach of the Soviet Union, the shift in foreign policy priorities, and the roles of various individuals and institutions in the implementation of foreign policy. The first part of the study is a public survey involving a stratified, weighted, systematic national sample of 1,546 respondents, aged 18 and older. The second part is a leadership sample including 341 individuals representing Americans in senior positions with knowledge of international affairs. Roughly equal proportions were chosen from the national political and governmental world, including Senators and Representatives (members of the Foreign Relations, International Relations and Armed Services Committees), and officials with International responsibilities from the State, Treasury, Defense and other departments, and from the business community, communications field, education and foreign policy institutes.