I agree that leaders can do unpopular things in a democracy, but I think it is much harder in a democracy to pursue wildly unpopular things if people feel it in their daily lives, and it becomes the top issue for them as voters. So leaders can get away with some unpopular steps in foreign policy, until voters feel it in their pockets. As a case in point, the one aspect that governments do seem sensitive to is gas prices and stock market.
I agree that leaders can do unpopular things in a democracy, but I think it is much harder in a democracy to pursue wildly unpopular things if people feel it in their daily lives, and it becomes the top issue for them as voters. So leaders can get away with some unpopular steps in foreign policy, until voters feel it in their pockets. As a case in point, the one aspect that governments do seem sensitive to is gas prices and stock market.