Social Networks, Public Opinion, and Foreign Policy
Results also show that networks' effectiveness in shaping public opinion is largely dependent on the types of policies that dominate the national agenda. Policies with direct implications for average citizens, such as European integration, create an opportunity for extensive political discussions and critical examination of the issue. Given that such policies often create losers and winners, communities and groups may exert greater pressure on individuals to conform to specific norms. In the end, the study shows that attitude formation emerges as interplay between local and national dynamics.
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign