We contrast the central theoretical claims of the realist and liberal traditions of international relations concerning the importance of public opinion in foreign affairs, providing sufficient empirical evidence to uphold the liberal view and refute the realist hypothesis. Using data collected over the last decade by The Americas and The World Project in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru, we show that, even if Latin Americans have important limitations in terms of knowledge of international affairs, a strong system of political beliefs endows them with the conceptual tools to face the complexity of global issues, permitting them to hold coherent and consistent preferences on international issues.