ETHNIC LOBBYING

Ethnic lobbying may advocate interests of a distinct group in the host country or may seek to influence foreign policy of the host country towards the country of origin or third countries. Currently, ethnic interest groups spend millions of dollars annually to influence U.S. foreign policy and to “block the influence of rival ethnic lobbies” . Driven by ethno-cultural differences, foreign conflicts and antagonistic interests of the rival parties, ethnic lobbies manage to mobilize strength of their constituent communities and to profoundly impact the U.S. legislative and executive decision-making processes.

One of the main objectives of ethnic lobbyists is to obtain U.S. support for the country of ethnicity’s origin over their rivals, notwithstanding the lack of the U.S. national interests in the region. Among the strongest lobbies in the U.S. are those advocating the interests of Armenia, China, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine.

Ethnic lobbying is considered to be an effective way of influencing U.S. foreign aid and defense policy decisions.

Major Ethnic Interest Groups in USA

1. African-Americans: African-American Lobby in Foreign Policy; National Association for the Achievement of Colored People
2. Albanian-Americans: Albanian American Civic League
3. American Jews: American Israel Public Affairs Committee; American Jewish Committee
4. American Muslims: Council on American-Islamic Relations
5. Armenian-Americans: Armenian American Lobby ANCA; Armenian Assembly of America; Armenia American Political Action Committee
6. Arabs Americans: Arab American Institute; American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; National Association of Arab Americans; American Task Force on Palestine
7. Asian-Americans: OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
8. Azerbaijani-Americans: United States Azerbaijanis Network; U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce; Azerbaijan America Alliance
9. Belarusia- Americans: Belarusian-American Association; Belarusian Congress Committee of America; Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic
10. Chinese-Americans: Chinese American Citizen Alliance
11. Croatian- Americans: Croatian World Congress
12. Cuba- Americans: Cuban American National Foundation
13. German- Americans:  German-American Heritage Foundation; German American National Congress
14. Greek-Americans: AHEPA American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee
15. Hispanic and Latino Americans: League of United Latin American Citizens; UnidosUS/National Council of La Raza
16. Indian- Americans: United States India Political Action Committee
17. Iranian- Americans: Organization of Iranian American Communities
18. Irish- Americans: Irish American Lobby
19. Italian Americans: National Italian American Foundation; National Association of Italian Americans; Italian American Civil Rights League; Sons of Italy
20. Japanese- Americans: Japanese American Citizens League
21. Korean- Americans: Korean American Coalition
22. Macedonian- Americans: United Macedonian Diaspora
23. Mexican- Americans: Chicano Movement, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
24. Native Americans: American Indian Movement; National Congress of American Indians
25. Norwegian- Americans: Sons of Norway
26. Pakistani- Americans: Pakistani Lobby in the United States
27. Polish- Americans: Polish American Association; Polish American Congress; Polish National Alliance
28. Serbian- Americans: Serbian Unity Congress
29. Swedish- Americans: Sweden America Foundation
30. Taiwanese- Americans: China Lobby
31. Turkish-Americans: Turkish Coalition of America
32. Vietnamese-Americans: National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA); Vietnamese Political Action Committee