Framing as lobbying with limited resources: A conceptual discussion on contemporary ethnic lobbying in the US

Due to the main characteristic of the American society as well as its political system, ethnic lobbying has become an important concept and activity in order to influence the domestic and foreign policy of the United States. By providing a conceptual discussion on the contemporary ethnic lobbying in the US, this article aims at demonstrating the importance of framing strategy for ethnic lobbying groups which have limited resources to promote their interests. The article reviews the existing literature on ethnic lobbying in the US by specifically considering the recent studies regarding the relatively new lobbying groups. Consequently, it argues that framing strategy can become an effective lobbying strategy not only for the lobbies that have access to the United States’ system with an institutional existence in its capital but also for those attempting to gain access to the policymaking communities in this country. Additionally, in order to achieve their specific purposes, ethnic lobbies can apply to the methods of strategic framing and normative framing during their lobbying campaigns.