The Structure of Attitudes Toward America's World Role

Abstract

The analysis presented in this article concerns how citizens organize their beliefs about America's role in the world affairs. An intensive analysis using Q methodology is offered as an alternative means for uncovering the structure of foreign policy attitudes. The analysis revealed four distinct viewpoints. In discussing the viewpoints we offer a critique of the methodological presuppositions underlying earlier empirical research and the implications of those presuppositions for our theoretical understanding of the subject.