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Ethnic interest groups in the United States

January 01, 1970

Ethnic interest groups in the United States are ethnic interest groups within the United States which seek to influence the foreign policy and, to a lesser extent, the domestic policy of the United States for the benefit of the foreign "ethnic kin" or homeland with whom the respective ethnic groups identify.[1]

Historic development edit

[The] ethnic composition [of the United States is] the single most important determinant of American foreign policy. — Nathan Glazer[2]

"Being a country founded and populated by immigrants, the United States has always contained groups with significant affective and political ties to their national homeland and their ethnic kin throughout the world."[1]

Many commentators when discussing the influence of ethnic interest groups tend to focus on new entrants to the competition for influence while accepting that the historic role that the Anglo-Saxon ethnic group had is no longer influencing, the foreign policy of the United States.[1] According to the Anglo authors as it usually is it was the United States' Anglo-Saxon's ethnic-ideological identity that, according to Paul McCartney,[3] drove it to enter into the Spanish–American War. Similarly, United States foreign policy in the mid-20th century was shaped in favor of South African apartheid, according to Catherine Scott,[4] as a result of the influence of people who identified with the Afrikaners based on a feeling of shared "whiteness."

World War I edit

In the United States, according to Alexander DeConde,[5] the "World War quickened the ethnic consciousness of minority groups. They promptly created organizations to help the causes of their old European homelands that had become belligerents. Through whatever means possible, the ethnic activists among them sought to give direction to Washington on matters of policy that affected their overseas kin, making the United States a lobbying battleground between rival interest groups emotionally entangled in the war."

Cold War edit

Ambrosio writes that "during the Cold War, the influence of ethnic identity groups was limited by the nature of both the international system and the U.S. foreign policy process."[1] The ethnic identity groups had limited influence during this period because:

  1. the Cold War foreign policy of the United States was formulated largely by elites concentrated in an executive branch (itself insulated from ethnic politicking because of their diminished role in presidential elections as compared to congress), and
  2. the general public, because of the high stakes involved, granted significant latitude and deference to the policy making elites.

Post–Cold War edit

Historian Samuel P. Huntington[6] writes that in the post–Cold War international system, there is uncertainty and confusion in the United States as to what are its national interests. Contributing to this confusing is the rise of multiculturalism and its eroding of a singular "American identity." The lack of a coherent national identity makes its challenging for the state to articulate its true interests, thus it becomes less resistant to the influence exerted by ethnic interest groups whose ethnocentric goals, at best, may only align with broad "American interests" by chance.

Current trends edit

Political scientist Thomas Ambrosio writes in 2002 that there "has been a growing acceptance that ethnic identity groups have the right to mobilize politically for the purpose of influencing U.S. policies at home and abroad. This has resulted in a rise in the number and ethnic lobbies as well as their influence."[1] Additional trends include an "increasing rejection of cultural assimilation and, in its place, growing support for expressions of ethnic diversity" as well as a decreasing tendency for Americans "to make charges of disloyalty against those who retain ties to their ethnic kin abroad and who advocate positions in line with the interests of their homeland." The proliferation of ethnic conflicts has also heightened the stakes for many ethnic groups causing concerted efforts to expand their influence on U.S. foreign policy as the "independence, survival, or general welfare of a group's ethnic kin or homeland is threatened."

Conflicting interpretations edit

There are multiple perspectives as to the value of the influence of ethnic interest groups on the foreign policy of the United States, much like there are conflicting interpretations of the influence of ethnic interest groups in general, see Ethnic interest groups – conflicting interpretations. Yossi Shain writes that in "many ways […] the participation of ethnic diasporas in shaping U.S. foreign policy is a truly positive phenomena."[1] A less positive assessment comes from Tony Smith, who writes that at "present, the negative consequences of ethnic involvement may way outweigh the undoubted benefits this activism at times confers on America in world affairs."[7]

Most recognized ethnic interest groups edit

See also edit

Further reading edit

  • Paul, David M. and Rachel Anderson-Paul. 2009. Ethnic Lobbies and US Foreign Policy. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58826-609-5.
  • Janice Terry. 2005. U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East: The Role of Lobbies and Special Interest Groups. Pluto Press. ISBN 0-7453-2258-1.
  • Ambrosio, Thomas. 2002. Ethnic Identity Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-97532-0
  • Smith, Tony. 2000. Foreign Attachments: The Power of Ethnic Groups in the Making of American Foreign Policy. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-00294-6
  • Goldberg, David Howard. 1990. Foreign Policy and Ethnic Interest Groups: American and Canadian Jews Lobby for Israel. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-26850-9
  • Ahrari, Mohammed E. 1987. Ethnic Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-25412-5
  • Said, Abdul Aziz. 1981. Ethnicity and U.S. Foreign Policy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-90716-3

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ambrosio, Thomas. 2002. "Ethnic identity groups and U.S. foreign policy." Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-97533-9
  2. ^ Glazer, Nathan and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. 1975. Ethnicity: Theory and Experience. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-26856-3
  3. ^ McCartney, Paul. "Anglo-Saxonism and U.S. Foreign Policy during the Spanish–American War" in Ambrosio, Thomas. 2002. Ethnic Identity Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-97533-9
  4. ^ Scott, Catherine V. "White Mischief: U.S. Support for Apartheid, 1948–1961" in Ambrosio, Thomas. 2002. Ethnic Identity Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-97533-9
  5. ^ DeConde, Alexander. 1992. Ethnicity, Race and American Foreign Policy. Northeastern University Press.
  6. ^ Huntington, Samuel P. "The Erosion of American National Interests 2007-12-03 at the Wayback Machine." Foreign Affairs (September/October 1997):28–49.
  7. ^ Smith, Tony. 2000. Foreign Attachments: The Power of Ethnic Groups in the Making of American Foreign Policy. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-00294-6

January 01, 1970
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ethnic interest groups in the United States news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message Ethnic interest groups in the United States are ethnic interest groups within the United States which seek to influence the foreign policy and to a lesser extent the domestic policy of the United States for the benefit of the foreign ethnic kin or homeland with whom the respective ethnic groups identify 1 Contents 1 Historic development 1 1 World War I 1 2 Cold War 1 3 Post Cold War 1 4 Current trends 2 Conflicting interpretations 3 Most recognized ethnic interest groups 4 See also 5 Further reading 6 ReferencesHistoric development edit The ethnic composition of the United States is the single most important determinant of American foreign policy Nathan Glazer 2 Being a country founded and populated by immigrants the United States has always contained groups with significant affective and political ties to their national homeland and their ethnic kin throughout the world 1 Many commentators when discussing the influence of ethnic interest groups tend to focus on new entrants to the competition for influence while accepting that the historic role that the Anglo Saxon ethnic group had is no longer influencing the foreign policy of the United States 1 According to the Anglo authors as it usually is it was the United States Anglo Saxon s ethnic ideological identity that according to Paul McCartney 3 drove it to enter into the Spanish American War Similarly United States foreign policy in the mid 20th century was shaped in favor of South African apartheid according to Catherine Scott 4 as a result of the influence of people who identified with the Afrikaners based on a feeling of shared whiteness World War I edit In the United States according to Alexander DeConde 5 the World War quickened the ethnic consciousness of minority groups They promptly created organizations to help the causes of their old European homelands that had become belligerents Through whatever means possible the ethnic activists among them sought to give direction to Washington on matters of policy that affected their overseas kin making the United States a lobbying battleground between rival interest groups emotionally entangled in the war Cold War edit Ambrosio writes that during the Cold War the influence of ethnic identity groups was limited by the nature of both the international system and the U S foreign policy process 1 The ethnic identity groups had limited influence during this period because the Cold War foreign policy of the United States was formulated largely by elites concentrated in an executive branch itself insulated from ethnic politicking because of their diminished role in presidential elections as compared to congress and the general public because of the high stakes involved granted significant latitude and deference to the policy making elites Post Cold War edit Historian Samuel P Huntington 6 writes that in the post Cold War international system there is uncertainty and confusion in the United States as to what are its national interests Contributing to this confusing is the rise of multiculturalism and its eroding of a singular American identity The lack of a coherent national identity makes its challenging for the state to articulate its true interests thus it becomes less resistant to the influence exerted by ethnic interest groups whose ethnocentric goals at best may only align with broad American interests by chance Current trends edit Political scientist Thomas Ambrosio writes in 2002 that there has been a growing acceptance that ethnic identity groups have the right to mobilize politically for the purpose of influencing U S policies at home and abroad This has resulted in a rise in the number and ethnic lobbies as well as their influence 1 Additional trends include an increasing rejection of cultural assimilation and in its place growing support for expressions of ethnic diversity as well as a decreasing tendency for Americans to make charges of disloyalty against those who retain ties to their ethnic kin abroad and who advocate positions in line with the interests of their homeland The proliferation of ethnic conflicts has also heightened the stakes for many ethnic groups causing concerted efforts to expand their influence on U S foreign policy as the independence survival or general welfare of a group s ethnic kin or homeland is threatened Conflicting interpretations editThere are multiple perspectives as to the value of the influence of ethnic interest groups on the foreign policy of the United States much like there are conflicting interpretations of the influence of ethnic interest groups in general see Ethnic interest groups conflicting interpretations Yossi Shain writes that in many ways the participation of ethnic diasporas in shaping U S foreign policy is a truly positive phenomena 1 A less positive assessment comes from Tony Smith who writes that at present the negative consequences of ethnic involvement may way outweigh the undoubted benefits this activism at times confers on America in world affairs 7 Most recognized ethnic interest groups editAlbanian American Civic League Albanian Americans American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee Greek Americans American Indian Movement Native Americans United States Azerbaijanis Network Azerbaijani Americans American Israel Public Affairs Committee Israeli Americans American Jewish Committee Jewish Americans American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee Arab Americans Ancient Order of Hibernians Irish Americans Armenian Assembly of America Armenian Americans Armenian National Committee of America Armenian Americans Arab American Institute Arab Americans Council on American Islamic Relations Muslim Americans Belarusian Congress Committee of America Belarusian Americans Cuban American National Foundation Cuban Americans Chinese American Citizens Alliance Chinese Americans English Speaking Union British Americans German American Heritage Foundation of the USA German Americans German American National Congress German Americans Italian American Civil Rights League Italian Americans Japanese American Citizens League Japanese Americans Korean American Coalition Korean Americans League of the South White Southerners of Anglo Celtic origin League of United Latin American Citizens Hispanic and Latino Americans Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Mexican Americans National Association for the Advancement of Colored People African Americans National Association of Arab Americans Arab Americans National Congress of American Indians Native Americans National Italian American Foundation Italian Americans OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates Asian Americans Polish American Association Polish Americans Polish American Congress Polish Americans Polish National Alliance Polish Americans Serbian Unity Congress Serbian Americans Sons of Norway Norwegian Americans Sweden America Foundation Swedish Americans TransAfrica Africans Turkish Coalition of America Turkish Americans Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Ukrainian Americans United States India Political Action Committee Indian Americans UnidosUS National Council of La Raza Hispanic and Latino Americans See also editDiaspora politics in the United States Ethnic interest group Foreign policy interest group Identity politics List of ethnic interest groups in CanadaFurther reading editPaul David M and Rachel Anderson Paul 2009 Ethnic Lobbies and US Foreign Policy Lynne Rienner Publishers ISBN 978 1 58826 609 5 Janice Terry 2005 U S Foreign Policy in the Middle East The Role of Lobbies and Special Interest Groups Pluto Press ISBN 0 7453 2258 1 Ambrosio Thomas 2002 Ethnic Identity Groups and U S Foreign Policy Praeger Publishers ISBN 0 275 97532 0 Smith Tony 2000 Foreign Attachments The Power of Ethnic Groups in the Making of American Foreign Policy Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 00294 6 Goldberg David Howard 1990 Foreign Policy and Ethnic Interest Groups American and Canadian Jews Lobby for Israel Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 26850 9 Ahrari Mohammed E 1987 Ethnic Groups and U S Foreign Policy Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 25412 5 Said Abdul Aziz 1981 Ethnicity and U S Foreign Policy Praeger Publishers ISBN 0 275 90716 3References edit a b c d e f Ambrosio Thomas 2002 Ethnic identity groups and U S foreign policy Praeger Publishers ISBN 0 275 97533 9 Glazer Nathan and Daniel Patrick Moynihan 1975 Ethnicity Theory and Experience Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 26856 3 McCartney Paul Anglo Saxonism and U S Foreign Policy during the Spanish American War in Ambrosio Thomas 2002 Ethnic Identity Groups and U S Foreign Policy Praeger Publishers ISBN 0 275 97533 9 Scott Catherine V White Mischief U S Support for Apartheid 1948 1961 in Ambrosio Thomas 2002 Ethnic Identity Groups and U S Foreign Policy Praeger Publishers ISBN 0 275 97533 9 DeConde Alexander 1992 Ethnicity Race and American Foreign Policy Northeastern University Press Huntington Samuel P The Erosion of American National Interests Archived 2007 12 03 at the Wayback Machine Foreign Affairs September October 1997 28 49 Smith Tony 2000 Foreign Attachments The Power of Ethnic Groups in the Making of American Foreign Policy Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 00294 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ethnic interest groups in the United States amp oldid 1194581952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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