University of Essex - Vox populi

The public's views on foreign policy, from the deployment of troops in Afghanistan to issues of immigration and asylum, are to be gauged by researchers. In the first survey of its kind, Thomas Scotto, lecturer in government at the University of Essex, will quiz residents of six different countries on foreign policy issues. He will also ask how their views affected their support for different political parties. He said the findings would be of use to academics, political analysts and politicians. About 3,000 people from each country - the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany and Italy - will have the chance to contribute to the study.