MOD 7: The American Public and U.S. Foreign Policy

Domestic Model of International Politics Components

Focuses on a state's political attributes and domestic order, comprising interest distribution, regime type, economic factors, nonstate actor interests, and mediating institutions. (Answers Q1, first part)

Domestic Factors Shaping US Foreign Policy

Key factors include the distribution of political interests, regime type, economic conditions (income, development), nonstate actor interests, and domestic institutions that mediate conflict and bargaining. (Answers Q1, second part)

Two-Level Game Model

Illustrates foreign policy decisions made simultaneously at international (Level I: state bargaining) and domestic (Level II: government-public/group interaction) levels. Domestic factors like interests, resources, policy execution, and costs critically shape international outcomes. (Answers Q2)

Domestic Nonstate Actors and Interests

Includes interest groups, economic firms, media, political parties, and individuals. Their interests derive from material concerns (e.g., income) and ideational sources (e.g., identity, internationalism), influencing policy on trade, military force, and foreign relations. (Answers Q3)

Domestic Institutions' Influence on Foreign Policy

Institutions like elections, campaign finance, or media mediate political conflict and bargaining among groups. They set rules for resolving interest-based differences, dictating which groups influence public policy decisions. (Answers Q4)

Rally Around the Flag Effect

Public support for the president and war during perceived crises, stemming from nationalism, limited public information, and the dramatic impact of foreign events. (Answers Q5, part 1)

War Fatigue

The tendency for public support for military intervention to decline over time. (Answers Q5, part 2)

Casualty-Phobic Public

American public support for military intervention decreases as casualties rise, a consistent trend in past wars (e.g., Korea, Vietnam, Iraq), fostering long-term caution. (Answers Q5, part 3)

Differentiating US Voter Foreign Policy Interests

Interests vary by material concerns (e.g., income, related to trade) and ideational sources (e.g., collective identity, views on internationalism). These manifest in voters' stances on globalization, military force, and international engagement. (Answers Q6)

Effective Nonstate Actors in Foreign Policy

Effectiveness is shaped by institutions (e.g., elections, media) and the balance of power among groups. Key factors include shared interest numbers, coordination effectiveness, overcoming collective action, common enemy focus, social media access, and financial resources for lobbying. (Answers Q7)