Chatter: Why Foreign Policy Elites Matter with Elizabeth Saunders
Apr 4, 2024
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Elizabeth Saunders, political science professor, discusses the influence of foreign policy elites on presidents and public opinion. Topics include differences between Democratic and Republican elites, hypothetical scenarios like Al Gore's decision on Iraq, pop culture representations of elites, and how polarization affects their influence.
Foreign policy elites play a vital role in shaping presidential decisions and ensuring accountability in critical foreign policy matters.
Presidents navigate between personal beliefs and political pressures when making foreign policy decisions, balancing public perception and party affiliations.
The nuanced perceptions of dovish or hawkish tendencies based on party labels influence strategic choices in international relations.
Deep dives
Understanding the Role of Foreign Policy Elites
Foreign policy elites play a crucial role in decision-making. Political scientist Elizabeth Saunders discusses how these elites, who extensively analyze foreign policy issues, hold a significant responsibility for ensuring accountability in decision-making processes. While not superior, their insights provide valuable judgment points in critical foreign policy matters.
Exploring the Influence of Policy Elites on War Decisions
Political incentives drive presidents' decisions on war and peace. The podcast delves into case studies involving presidents like Truman, Johnson, and Reagan, analyzing how their interactions with foreign policy elites shape their strategic choices. The dynamic between leaders and elites highlights the complexities and trade-offs involved in key decisions.
Analyzing Motivations Behind Presidential Actions
Presidents sometimes balance sincere beliefs with political motivations in foreign policy decisions. Factors like public perception, party affiliations, and domestic agendas influence their choices. Understanding the interplay between personal, political, and policy considerations sheds light on the complexities of presidential decision-making.
Perceptions and Decision-Making in Foreign Policy
Perceptions of dovishness or hawkishness based on party affiliations impact foreign policy decisions. The perceived tendencies of leaders from dovish or hawkish parties offer insights into how political dynamics influence strategic choices. The nuances of public perception and party labels shape decision-making processes in international relations.
Influence of Perception on Democratic Party Trustworthiness
The podcast episode delves into the impact of perception on the trustworthiness of the Democratic Party regarding national security. The discussion highlights how the Democrats struggle to garner high trust levels, consistently below 50% compared to the Republicans. This enduring perception, as supported by polling data, plays a significant role in shaping public trust dynamics.
Role of Elites in Foreign Policy Decision-Making
The podcast also explores the nuanced representations of foreign policy elites in popular culture, emphasizing their multifaceted nature. By referencing shows like 'The West Wing' and 'The Americans,' the conversation delves into the complexity of elite influence, showcasing how different portrayals in media can impact public perceptions of national security decision-making processes. The discussion underscores the importance of understanding the various dimensions of elite roles in shaping foreign policy narratives.
The "deep state." The "blob." Foreign policy elites are often so labeled, misunderstood, and denigrated. But what influence on presidents and on public opinion do they actually have?
Elizabeth Saunders, professor of political science at Columbia, has researched this topic deeply and written about it in her new book, The Insiders' Game. David Priess spoke with her about her path to studying foreign policy, the ups and downs of archival research, the meaning of foreign policy "elites," the differences between the influences of Democratic and Republican elites, a counterfactual President Al Gore's decisionmaking about invading Iraq, pop cultural representations of foreign policy elites, how heightened polarization changes the dynamics of elite influence, and more.
Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.
