Date of Conferral
4-1-2025
Date of Award
April 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Amin Asfari
Abstract
Research on ethnic lobbying has largely neglected the perspectives of Arab Americans, creating a disconnect between this community and their lobbying efforts. This gap is crucial because it threatens to widen the disconnect between Arab Americans and their lobbying groups, where effective lobbying depends on a unified message. Existing studies highlight this gap, pointing out the lack of unified organization and ongoing resource constraints that limit the influence of Arab American lobbyists on U.S. foreign policy. The purpose of this generic qualitative was to explore Arab Americans’ perceptions of their lobbying efforts and the factors shaping these perceptions based on the spiral of silence and looking glass self theories. The study involved interviews with seven Arab Americans in Washtenaw County and Wayne County, Michigan, and the data were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal a predominantly negative perception of lobbying efficacy attributed to fragmented strategies and insufficient resources. To promote positive social change, the study can potentially be used to support a unified vision within the community, strategically utilizing social media, increasing financial support, and encouraging cooperation across generations. These strategies have the potential to enhance lobbying efforts, align them more closely with community objectives, and strengthen their impact, enabling the delivery of a bipartisan message that advocates for policy changes beneficial to Arab American interests.
Recommended Citation
Farha, Samar, "Arab Americans’ Views of Arab Lobbying Efforts Related to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17540.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17540
