Many of the most important government officials come from the private sector, serve for a few years, and then return to universities, research institutes, the media, business, or law firms. They continue to comment on and seek to influence the course of U.S. foreign relations from their positions outside the government. This constantly changing cast of characters produces an ongoing conversation over the direction and content of U.S. foreign policy. Sometimes the volume of the discussion makes it hard to comprehend individual voices or themes. But the very unruliness of the discourse makes it more democratic.
Outsiders have regular opportunities to influence the course of public affairs.
Government officials constantly are able to measure and refresh their views with the help of the most thoughtful, experienced, and committed members of the public. People outside the government who are interested in foreign affairs have a dense web of outlets to use in helping policy-makers to set the diplomatic agenda and adopt specific policies for implementation. There are scores of journals of opinion devoted either exclusively or in large measure to foreign affairs. The journals Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Public Interest, and The National Interest, just to mention a few of the most prominent, all feature articles on the outstanding issues of the day. All of them are read seriously by the top officials of the government.