The ‘Germany Lobby’ and US Foreign Policy: What, if Anything, Does It Tell Us about the Debate over the ‘Israel Lobby’?

Abstract

This article seeks to shed some comparative light on the recent debate over the influence on US foreign policy of what has been termed the ‘Israel Lobby’. The authors highlight an earlier debate, similar in some ways, that took place a century ago in America, concerning the mooted influence of German-Americans upon US policy toward the European balance of power. They conclude that while the ‘lobbying’ associated with diasporas is certainly an intriguing aspect of American policy discussions, the experience of what they call the ‘Germany Lobby’ stands as a reminder of the need for caution in ascribing causal significance to ethnic pressure politics.