ABSTRACT
One of the anomalies of public opinion research has been the relative lack of attention directed at the foreign policy attitudes and beliefs of opinion leaders. Since Almond's seminal study of The American People and Foreign Policy, it has been customary to distinguish among various strata of the public; for example, among opinion leaders, the informed public and the mass public. The ideal survey would have a sample that faithfully and precisely replicates the society's leadership structure. The leadership surveys were conducted by mail. In order to preserve their anonymity, respondents were asked to return the questionnaire to one address, and a postal card acknowledging its completion to another. Leaders taking part in the 1980 survey gave primary emphasis to threats emanating from the Soviet Union in the form of its military buildup and its expansionist activities in Third World areas.
