Opponents offering alternative strategies can then easily attract the support of a fickle public. Clearly it is in formulating strategies that lies the political pay-off. It is in avoiding the unpleasant aspects of their implementation that political skill is demonstrated. Constituencies now have little expectation that politicians or governments will fulfil pledges. In 1995 the French government was even obliged to vow to fulfil a pledge to other governments.
Resolution is now subject to rapid devaluation.
But, as with New Year's resolutions, it is questionable whether resolving to act on a resolution is a credible response. Strategies have a short effective shelf-life in relation to their original intentions.