Public Opinion can be an
aggregate of the views, attitudes, and beliefs on a given public
issue, expressed by a significant proportion of a community. It can
be the synthesis of the views of all or a certain segment of society; or it can
be a collection of differing or opposing views. It has a common interest, common
goal and common objectives by a majority of people.
Even though the notion of public opinion had been subject to debate
ever since antiquity, the breakthrough really came with the Enlightenment,
Rousseau’s concepts of volonté Générale and opinion Générale, and the French
Revolution.
Formation of
Public Opinion
Public opinion is formed by individuals composing a group who
expresses their own views and opinion on a controversial issue. Public opinion
is a composite opinion resulting from interactions of individual opinions and
society as whole.
Numerous
theories and substantial evidence exist to explain the formation and dynamics
of individuals' opinions. Much of this research draws on psychological research
on attitudes.
In communication studies and political science, mass media are
often seen as influential forces on public opinion. Additionally, political
socialization and behavioural genetics sometimes explain public opinion.
Agencies of Public Opinion
- Opinion Polls
- Media(major)
- Radio & T.V
- Cinema
- Public meetings
- Political Parties
- Educational
Institutions
The most
pervasive issue dividing theories of the opinion-policy relation bears a
striking resemblance to the problem of monism-pluralism in the history of
philosophy.
The
controversy deals with the question of whether the structure of socio-political
action should be viewed as a more or less centralized process of acts and
decisions by a class of key leaders, representing integrated hierarchies of
influence in society or whether it is more accurately envisaged as several sets
of relatively autonomous opinion and influence groups, interacting with
representative decision makers in an official structure of differentiated
governmental authority.
Role of Media in Opinion Formation
The
formation of public opinion starts with agenda setting by major media outlets
throughout the world. This agenda setting dictates what is newsworthy and how
and when it will be reported.
The media agenda is set by a variety of different
environmental and news work factors that determines which stories will be
newsworthy.
Another key
component in the formation of public opinion is framing. Framing is when a
story or piece of news is portrayed in a particular way and is meant to sway
the consumer's attitude one way or the other.
Characteristics of Public Opinion
1. General Agreement
Opinion behind which there is a general consensus.
2. Rational/Logical
Its validity should be demonstrable by logic or reason.
3. General Welfare
Opinion is governed by the idea of promotion of general public welfare.
4. Related to All Aspects of Life
Public Opinion can concern any or every matter- Political, Social, Economic, Cultural aspects of life.
5. Based on Right to Freedom of Speech &Expression
The right to freedom of speech and expression is a very essential condition for the birth of public opinion.
6. Basis of Democracy
All policies of democratic government rest on public opinion.
7. Real Sanction of The Laws of The State
Supremacy of public opinion reflects the sovereign nature of the state.
Public Opinion in Foreign Policy
As with
public policy, public opinion also has a close relationship with foreign
policy. There is much debate concerning what the relationship is and the study
of foreign policy's relationship with public opinion has evolved over time.
People's
judgments about issues are often based on heuristics, which are mental
shortcuts that allow rational decisions to be made quickly.
Heuristics
apply to public opinion about domestic as well as foreign policy. The deductive
heuristic is one that relies on a person's core values and social groups.
Delegative heuristics are influenced by figures of authority such as the media
or president.
The theory
of public opinion in political life is a derivative for having a Democratic
form of government. The role of public opinion in democracy is ultimately the
result of struggle between belief and fact. Thus, public opinion proves
Democracy is a form of government of the people, for the people, by the people.
Written
By - Atul Bihari Chakrawarty
Edited
By - Prachi Raheja
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