Lynne Rienner Ethnic Lobbies and US Foreign Policy

Dozens of ethnic groups work determinedly to achieve specific policy goals in Washington, but to what degree do they actually wield power? Which groups are the most influential, and why? David Paul considers the relative impact of 38 ethnic lobbies to determine whether - and if so, how - they affect the course of US foreign policy.Paul systematically examines the impact of ethnic-group influence in six policy areas: aid, immigration, human rights, security, trade, and energy. He also compares the influence of ethnic lobbies to that of other actors, including business groups, the media, and foreign lobbyists. Challenging the conventional wisdom, he effectively draws on both qualitative and quantitative methods to shed needed light on this often heatedly contentious subject.Systematically investigates the relative impact of 38 ethnic lobbies to determine whether - and if so, how - they affect the course of US foreign policy. Review At long last.... A careful, empirically based study of the impact of a wide range of ethnic groups on US foreign policy. David Paul has made an important contribution to our understanding of how this dimension of US politics works. - Tony Smith, Tufts University Synopsis Dozens of ethnic groups work determinedly to achieve specific policy goals in Washington, but to what degree do they actually wield power? Which groups are the most influential, and why? David Paul considers the relative impact of 38 ethnic lobbies to determine whether - and if so, how - they affect the course of US foreign policy.Paul systematically examines the impact of ethnic-group influence in six policy areas: aid, immigration, human rights, security, trade, and energy. He also compares the influence of ethnic lobbies to that of other actors, including business groups, the media, and foreign lobbyists. Challenging the conventional wisdom, he effectively draws on both qualitative and quantitative methods to shed needed light on this often heatedly contentious subject.Systematically investigates the relative impact of 38 ethnic lobbies to determine whether - and if so, how - they affect the course of US foreign policy. About the Author David M. Paul is assistant professor of political science at Ohio State University, Newark.