The United States, Irish Americans and the Northern Ireland peace process

Abstract

The Clinton administration's involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process is the culmination of a long period of lobbying by Irish-American groups. The leading role in influencing the Clinton administration has been taken by a new grouping, Americans for a New Irish Agenda. But longer-established organizations with varying approaches have also had an impact on the evolution of American policy towards Northern Ireland. The Clinton administration's engagement is also partly to be explained by the United States' new foreign policy agenda after the end of the Cold War. Despite friction between the British and American governments over aspects of the Clinton administration's approach, there is no fundamental conflict between American and British goals in Northern Ireland.