Social Development

Interest Groups Response to the Conflicts

Let us examine the nature and extent of Interest Groups Response in case the Conflicts occur in the society. Groups with special interests in specific regions or issues, depending on their unity and financial strength are able to exert considerable influence on policymakers. They tend to draw their strength from the diasporas, or from those sharing religious beliefs.

Do such interest groups exist for Africa in Western countries, and if they do, how responsive are they concerning conflict on the continent? A number of such organisations do exist, but their political power appears to be weak. This is notable considering the proportion of the diasporas in some of these Western countries. As many as 13 percent of Americans, for example, can trace their origins to Africa.

Interest Groups Response to the Conflicts

Actions by the Interest groups

Trans-Africa is a Washington-based organisation was established to increase the voice of African-Americans in US foreign policy, but it focused primarily on ending apartheid in South Africa. The organisation later turned its attention to Haiti and Nigeria, but it appeared to attract little mainstream support in the West (Berkeley, 2001: 88-90). Another group to note in the US was a loose grassroots coalition known as Liberia Watch, which successfully lobbied the USA for a 200-million-dollar aid package for Liberia. 

Case of Christians response in conflict areas

Christians in Sudan were involved in helping people in conflict zones

Interest Groups Response to the Conflicts

Considerably stronger than these groups, however, are Christian lobby groups, who identify and attempt to aid Christians that they see are being persecuted by non-Christians. Their influence has been seen most in Sudan, and they have been both a major provider of aid in southern Sudan (controversial because it was also being used as a resource by south Sudanese rebel forces), and a political influence on policymakers engaged in the peace process in Sudan. It can be said, however, that the role of interest groups has been minimal in attracting sustained aid and political attention in the West for the majority of African conflicts.

Thanks for reading. You may explore more at: Our Blog

Or Visit our Forum for Questions and Answers related to this post at: Forum

Please, also visit and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Decroly Education Centre (youtube.com) or Centre for Elites – YouTube

Medi Calm

Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

Electric Discharge. How does it work?

Many of the everyday effects of electrostatics involve a charged object losing its charge and…

3 weeks ago

Experiment 2.2: Area Expansion of Solids

Area expansion of solids refers to the increase in the surface area of a solid…

2 months ago

Experiment 2.1:  Linear expansion of Solids

The increase in the length of a body resulting from being heated is known as…

2 months ago

Theories of Aging Fully Explained

Different disciplines have developed theories of aging due to the complex nature of aging process.…

3 months ago

New 2023 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework Is Here

The 2023 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework (ZECF) has been developed not only to provide guidance…

10 months ago

Discovering Africa’s Big 5: From the Mighty Lion to the Majestic Elephant and 3 More

Discover the Africa’s Big 5 and learn about the majestic animals that make up this…

10 months ago