Decision Making Theories

. According to Jacobs and Shapiro (2000) political leaders are more responsive to public opinion when elections are near-term, rather than in times between the elections. Notwithstanding, public opinion can be used also by non-elected representative. But it can be tied to elections as well. Thus, different interest group may use public opinion during the build-up to election, for instance in formulation of party platforms.

H-2: Depending on the issue area, public opinion reflects the feelings and wishes of population.

Thus, on the one hand, there can be problems of a great importance for public, where national reaction is clear-cut. For instance, issues related to military, security, etc. While there can be other “non-sensitive” situations

From a neorealist point of view, “a state is an egoistic performer trying to survive under the anarchy problematic. All else pales into insignificance of this imperative” (Chris Brown and Kirsten Ainley 2005).

As indicated by the former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger 'statespersons are affected by two arrangements of influence: on the one hand, power, activities of other states, politics, on the other hand, bureaucracy and public opinion', therefore policymaker must comprehend these imperatives, bending them to his will'(Russett, Starr, Kinsella 2000). It is generally acknowledged by both researchers and the policymakers that the normal decision is the overwhelming way to deal with outside strategy making. This approach includes the accompanying strides, (1) Problem acknowledgment and definition (2) Goal choice (3) Identification of options (4) Choice (Keggley and Wittkopf 2000). Foreign policy decision makers, as any rational persons, after the appraising the case, often choose those actions that would accomplish the best outcome (White 1989). However, Michael Clarke (1989) contends that “rationality” is often mistaken

Contentions in support of realist view can be found back in the eighteenth century. Edmund Burke a political scholar stated that decision maker owes to his people since state is not his own industry, therefore public opinion matters (Foyle 1999). Further, Lippmann (1955) contended that often public opinion deals with problems that no longer exist, since its reaction comes very slow it reflects the decision-making too late. He argues that public cannot govern, it only can elect the government, judge its performance; therefore, its role in policy decision making process should be limited, since its irrationality. Going further Morgenthau contended that the leader of public opinion is government. To him successful foreign policy cannot be achieved relying on public opinion, since its emotionality. Neorealists, for example, Mearsheimer states that public are mostly interested in elite manipulations and events of other states ( Foyle 1999). In the U.S. specifically, Mearsheimer (2002) says that policymakers utilize “liberal talk, realist considering”, moreover “the US actions in international system indicated by the directions of realist logic. Fundamentally, there is a huge gap between public opinion and US foreign