Citizens in Foreign Policy

Foreign and security policy is notoriously remote from the public. State elites shield this policy area referring to its sensitivity and complexity; citizens themselves can hardly be mobilised or wooed to make the desired electoral decision in this field. In German foreign policy, there is also a discrepancy between the preferences of citizens on the one hand and foreign policy elites in Germany and partner states on the other – a discrepancy that has been noted for many years and, although often lamented, has only recently been addressed actively. In our new article in Wissenschaft und Frieden, we discuss efforts to bridge this gap and probe their potential for peace policy.

The article – available in German – can be found here.