Can the Alliance afford the almost unprecedented polarization of popular opinion over defense policy? This Atlantic Institute study deals with the appearance and realities of this unique situation by developing and exploring four themes for each of the Alliance countries: their images of the Soviet Union, of their security, of deterrence, and of their allies. Each of these themes is explored in terms of the criteria used by populations in their 'image formation,' the evolution of these criteria, the intensity with which public perceptions are held, and the sources of information on the basis of which perceptions are formed.