NATO Two-Track Decision: The Impact of Public Opinion on Government Policy in the Federal Republic of Germany

摘要

The purpose of this thesis has been to find what influence using public opinion against the stationing of Pershing II and cruise missiles under provisions of the NATO Two-Track decision has had on the government policies which have advocated such stationing. The thesis covers theoretical discussion of previous works in the general area of public opinion, followed by the construction of a model constructed from those works. West German government policy and public opinion are discussed. Both parties of Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl proposed commitment to the NATO Two-Track decision. Latest opinion polls showed a marked drop in those who felt that nuclear weapons and war were the most urgent problems of the time. Election results, however, could show from growing support which the Greens received that the young are less in favor of current policies than the older generation. The government has been able to continue implementing the NATO Two-Track decision in the face of demonstrations. The areas are clear public consensus developing against the stationing by the polls even though nuclear weapons are not at all popular.