The Efficacy of Public Opinion in Policy Formation in The Infosphere Era

Abstract

Democracy and democratic values have had a profound impact on the policy process in developed and developing democracies. Often described as a government of all the people, by all the people, and for all the people, democracy places a crucial importance on the impact of the populace on the decision-making process. Exacerbated by recent technological advancements, aggregating the populace’s opinion has become easier and more streamlined, with these opinions having a more pronounced influence on the policy process. This review seeks to elucidate on the vital role public opinion plays today which policymakers must take into consideration in the policy process. It explains the role new media plays in shaping and swaying public opinion, as well as the importance of considering both domestic and foreign public reaction. By exploring this, public support’s ability to bestow legitimacy on government policies is examined, particularly as it operates in developed and developing democracies. The review concludes by recommending policymakers and academia take into cognisance this new battlefield of public opinion and its national security implications in the face of the current technological evolution, in which civil societies, interest and lobby groups, advocacy think tanks, political factions and ultimately policymakers all contend in.