US public views of international involvement from 1964 to 1993 - Time-series analyses of general and militant internationalism

Differing views about the nature of public opinion are central to the debat e concerning public influence on foreign policy. This study examines U.S. p ublic opinion on the fundamental issue of the extent to which the nation sh ould be involved in activity beyond its borders. The author develops annual time-series measures of two distinct views of internationalism-general int ernationalism and militant internationalism-in the period from 1964 to 1993 . Time-series regression analyses indicate that changes in public support f or general and militant internationalism correspond to changes in public vi ews of the important issues of the day. The analyses reveal less support fo r militant internationalism associated with a higher percentage of liberal ideological identification in the years from 1964 to 1989. Overall, this re search supports the view that aggregate changes in public support for inter nationalism are consistent and predictable.