Lester Crown Center on US Foreign Policy

Shaping debates and informing decisions on important US foreign policy issues.

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Public Opinion

Chicago Council Survey data tracks trends in American public opinion on US foreign policy since 1975.

Survey Reports

Research

Analysis and policy recommendations on US foreign policy and national security.

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Events

Policymakers and influencers share their experience and insight to keep the public informed.

Events

From the Lester Crown Center

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey

Majority of Americans Say Congress' Approval Needed for US Strikes in Iran

Plumes of smoke from two simultaneous strikes rise over Tehran, Iran

While few Americans want to see Iran develop a nuclear weapon, just half expressed support for US airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities—and most believe direct military action would spark a broader regional war.

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress

Americans See Congress as Weak on Foreign Policy Compared to the President

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey

A Ukrainian soldier near the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war

Americans Oppose Ceding the Donbas to Russia Amid Push for Peace Deal

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey

The Growing Partisan Divide on US Foreign Policy

Results and analysis of the Council's 2025 annual survey of American views on foreign policy.

Explore the data

Center at a Glance

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Public Opinion Surveys on US Foreign Policy

First conducted in 1974, the now annual Chicago Council Survey highlights critical trends and shifts in American views on US foreign policy over time.

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Running Numbers Blog

A public opinion, probabilities, and everything data-related blog featuring commentary and analysis from polling and foreign policy experts.

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In the News

Commentary and analysis from Lester Crown Center experts featured in digital, print, and TV news.

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Why Public Opinion Surveys Matter

Leslie Vinjamuri

President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She is Professor of Practice in International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University of London.

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Dina Smeltz

Managing Director & Chair, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.

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Craig Kafura

Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

Craig Kafura is the director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and a Pacific Forum Young Leader. At the Council, he coordinates work on public opinion and foreign policy and is a regular contributor to the public opinion and foreign policy blog Running Numbers.

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All Lester Crown Center experts

Crown Center Events

American flags lined up in front of the US Capitol ahead of President Joe Biden's inauguration on January 18, 2021.

Public Opinion and the Future of US Foreign Policy

PAST EVENT

An expert roundtable convened in partnership with Bridging the Gap explores what public opinion data can indicate about the future of US foreign policy.

Leslie Vinjamuri, Yawei Liu, Dina Smeltz, Paul Heer on the Council stage

China and the World: How Citizens View Their Country's Global Future

PAST EVENT VIDEO

Join us as we discuss the results of a new survey of Chinese public opinion on foreign policy and what these findings mean for US-China relations and China's role in the world.