Suchergebnisse

Abstract: To what extent do ethnic minority groups influence foreign policy? This
question hinges on the impact of cross-border ties between ethnic
groups and the extent to which a minority ethnic group can "capture"
foreign policy despite opposition from the majority in both democratic
and autocratic regimes. The evidence suggests that ethnicity matters,
but in a limited fashion: ethnic ties can heighten diplomatic conflict,
influence decisions to provide support for insurgent groups, and
exacerbate international crises. Yet these ties have little impact on
decisions by governments to impose economic sanctions and are far from
the primary determinant of international armed conflict. Ethnicity is
but one cleavage over which political mobilization might occur, and one
that neither scholars nor politicians should reify.

AbstractThis article documents a U.S. Cuban foreign policy cycle that operated in tandem with the presidential electoral cycle between 1992 and 2004. During these post–Cold War years, when Cuba posed no threat to U.S. national security, influential, well-organized Cuban Americans leveraged political contributions and votes to tighten the embargo on travel and trade, especially at the personal level. U.S. presidential candidates, most notably incumbent presidents seeking re-election, responded to their demands with discretionary powers of office. When presidential candidates supported policies that made good electoral sense but conflicted with concerns of state, they subsequently reversed or left unimplemented Cuba initiatives. After describing the logic behind an ethnic electoral policy cycle and U.S. personal embargo policy between 1992 and 2004, this article examines Cuban American voter participation, political and policy preferences, lobbying, political contributions, and the relationship between the ethnic policy and presidential election cycles.

China has been a multi-ethnic political polity for over two thousand years. "Culturalisation" of ethnic minorities in peripheries has been a tradition in China deeply rooted in the Confucianism. This tradition resulted in a united-pluralistic polity with a huge population and the non-stop writing history throughout a series of dynasties. The People's Republic began to adopt the policies of the former USSR since the 1950s and gave ethnic minorities more political status, or what is called "politicisation" of ethnic minorities in China. This policy has improved socioeconomic development of minority groups and promoted group corporations but also has strengthened the group consciousness among the minorities. The collapse of the Soviet Union provides a lesson that this policy orientation might provide an institutional basis for national disintegration when internal and external powers work together. Meanwhile, the "equality de facto" has been the goal of official ethnic policy since the 1950s and many policies have been designed and practiced in favour of minority groups, but there also some debate on its social consequences which also need our attention.

Expanding role of ethnic groups in determining US foreign policy, with some focus on African-Americans' contribution to democracy in Africa.