CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2015
| Author | Sara, Edi |
|---|---|
| Title | When and how do ethnic-groups influence the foreign policy of a host country towards their homeland? Cuban-American lobbying heritage: forging an inflexible U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba |
| Summary | Interest groups have always been considered as a creative-destructive force in democratic systems. Ethnic-communities have displayed the dynamics of this force particularly during the last two decades. The purpose of this thesis is to understand better when and how ethnic-groups influence the foreign policy of a host country towards their homeland? The Cuban American National Foundation has been selected as a pivotal case study that has forged an inflexible U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba through the issuing of the 1992 and 1996 Acts. The work makes use of primary and secondary sources, and employs a synthesis of social-constructivist approach in foreign policy with lobbying strategies and tactics as a theoretical framework. Anti-communist ideology is challenged and protectionist interests are proposed instead after analyzing both acts. Three outcomes are delivered from this work, explaining how ethnic-groups gain access and influence by following a congruent policy with the government; when foreign-policy is traded for domestic political gains during elections; and when ethnic-group makes use of effective strategies and tactics in pressuring the legislators. In the end, two lessons derive that find applicability also in Europe besides U.S. |
| Supervisor | Supervisor: Howard, Philip Edward; Co-Supervisor: Svensson, Sara |
| Department | Public Policy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2015/sara_edi.pdf |
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