Foreign policy interest group
 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2010) |
A foreign policy interest group, according to Thomas Ambrosio, is a domestic advocacy group which seeks to directly or indirectly influence their government's foreign policy.[1]
Historic development
[edit]- "Beginning in the early 1970s and continuing into the post-Cold War era, the U.S. foreign policy-making system has been transformed from the relatively closed and presidential dominated system of the early cold war into a more open, contentious, and pluralistic system. The president remains the most powerful actor, but he now must contend with an active Congress, oversee a complex executive bureaucracy, and respond to pressures and ideas generated by the press, think tanks, and public opinion. During this period, there also has been a sharp increase in the number of interest groups actively seeking to influence U.S. foreign policy. These interest groups have mobilized to represent a diverse array of business, labor, ethnic, human rights, environmental, and other organizations. Thus, on most issues, the contemporary foreign policy-making system has become more similar to its domestic policy-making counterpart, with multiple interest groups using multiple channels to try to influence policy choices."[2]
Tactics
[edit]Foreign policy interest groups, according to John Dietrich,[2] are able to have "an impact on the earlier stages of the decision making process"[2] via the following three general, yet effective, tactics:
Framing the issues
[edit]Framing, Ambrosio describes, is "the attempt by interest groups to place an issue on the government's agenda, shape perspectives of that issue, and influence the terms of debate."[1]
Offering information and analysis
[edit]Framing is closely connected to with supplying information and analysis, according to Ambrosio, because of "the large number and diversity of issues confronting [the staff of an elected representative], it is impossible for staffers to invest sufficient time to research issues themselves. Consequently, they are forced to rely on outside sources of information; interest groups provide this information, most likely with analysis (or "spin") beneficial to their agenda."[1]
Monitoring the policy process and reacting as necessary
[edit]In addition to framing, supplying information and analysis, Ambrosio states that "interest groups closely monitor government policies pertaining to their agenda and react to those policies through" such actions as:
- "the dissemination of supplementary information,"
- "letter-writing campaigns,"
- "calls for hearings or additional legislation, [and]"
- "support or opposition of candidates during elections"[1]
See also
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- Ambrosio, Thomas. 2002. "Ethnic identity groups and U.S. foreign policy." Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-97533-9
- Ahrari, Mohammed E. 1987. "Ethnic Groups and U.S. Foreign Policy." Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-25412-5
- Paul, David M. and Rachel Anderson-Paul. 2009. "Ethnic Lobbies and US Foreign Policy." Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58826-609-5.
- Said, Abdul Aziz. 1981. "Ethnicity and U.S. Foreign Policy." Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-90716-3
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Ambrosio, Thomas. 2002. "Ethnic identity groups and U.S. foreign policy." Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-97533-9
- ^ a b c Dietrich, John W. (1999). "Interest Groups and Foreign Policy: Clinton and the China MFN Debates". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 29 (2): 280–296. doi:10.1111/1741-5705.00033.