Author Description

<p>This book provides a long-term perspective on the opinions of the British public on foreign policy issues in the post-war era. Thematically wide-ranging, it looks at the broader role of foreign policy in British politics and elections, public opinion towards Britain's key international relationships (the Commonwealth, United States and Europe), and public opinion towards foreign and defence policy issues (relating to the projection of 'soft power' and 'hard power'). Assessing the main areas of change and continuity in the public's views it pays close attention to where - and why - societal groups have differed in their views on Britain's external role.</p> <p>Analysing of a wide range of resources pertaining to British public opinion on foreign policy issues, the book situates the analysis of public opinion in the wider context of Britain's changing foreign policy role and priorities in the post-war era, as well as link public opinion with the politics of British foreign policy - the broad post-war bipartisan consensus on external policy, historical and contemporary areas of inter-party debate, and enduring intra-party divides.</p> <p>This text will be of key interest to scholars and students of British politics, European politics, foreign policy analysis, public opinion, defence and security studies and more broadly to comparative politics and international relations.</p>