Almond–Lippmann consensus
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
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:
- it is volatile and irrational and thus a dubious basis for foreign policy;
- 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]
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