A degree of caution must be employed in relying on a national style approach to foreign policy analysis. The patterns we have discussed cannot be seen as dictating the details of U.S. foreign policy. Too many other factors are at work for this be the case. What they do appear capable of doing is placing boundaries on what type of action will be considered permissible or appropriate for the United States to undertake. Foreign policy initiatives that do not build on these policies (détente) or that are seen as excessive application of them (the Iran-Contra policy) are unlikely to receive sustained support by the American public.