The Dynamics of Public Opinion towards Aznar’s and Zapatero’s Foreign Policy: the European Constitution and the War of Iraq

Abstract

This thesis aims to shed light to what extent, Aznar’s and Zapatero’s foreign policy decisions: the rejection and approval of the European Constitution and the invasion and the removal of the troops from Iraq, were taken in light of the Spanish public opinion. The objective is to answer the following research question: how José Maria Aznar overcame domestic opposition to implement unpopular policies and how José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero managed to exploit supportive public opinion to implement his chosen foreign policy? Based on public opinion surveys, interviews and document data I conclude that Spanish policy making is a result of both bottom up processes wherein leaders are responsive to public opinion; and of bottom down process wherein leaders ignore public opinion; as well as a process in which leaders managed to manipulate the public opinion to ensure that policies that they supported were pursued. This relation between policy makers and public opinion is provided by both the type of the policy and the two-level game strategies.