A Study On American Jews’ Political Participation In Post World War Ⅱ

American Jews is one of the most successful and influential ethnicminorities in America. As a model of ethnic minorities in the United States, AmericanJews, especially in the political field, has made tremendous achievements unmatchedby other ethnic minorities. There is a very long history of American Jewish politicalparticipation, but it wasn’t until after World War II did the Jews begin a large-scaleand well-organized political participation. American Jews makes full use of the freeand democratic political atmosphere in America and makes great impact on theinternal affairs and foreign affairs of America, particularly a powerful influence onU.S. Middle East policy. American Jews actively take part in politics, fully safeguardtheir own interests and better integrate into American society. Meanwhile, it’s alsobeneficial to establish the influence and status of the Jewish nation in the world.Through proofs and researches based on large amounts of data andhistorical, political events, this thesis discusses the behaviors and features ofAmerican Jews to protect the interests of their own ethnic group by actively takingpart in politics after World War Ⅱ, it is designed to reveal the primary purpose ofAmerican Jews’ political participation after WWⅡ, which is to maintain andconsolidate the self-interest of Jewish ethnic. In the first chapter, this paper analyzesthe inner and external causes of Jewish active participation in politics after World WarII, arguing that the history of the Jews in the Diaspora, especially in World War II,they suffered from genocide crisis which forced them to unite to control their owndestiny, and after World War II, improvement of Jewish socio-economic status andrelatively loose, free political environment in the United States which provided themwith a solid material foundation and platform of political participation. The secondchapter makes an in-depth exploration of the main ways of American Jews’ strugglefor benefits by political participation after World War II: Jewish interest groupslobbying to influence the U.S. government domestic and foreign policies; making fulluse of their votes to support those helpful politicians; actively taking part in just and fair social movements in the United States after World War II; and directlyparticipating in politics by running for public office. On that basis, the third chapterfurther argues that during the postwar period, the behavior of American Jews’ politicalparticipation which profit their own ethnic is of three features as intense enthusiasm incomparison with other ethnic groups, tendency towards liberalism and resolutesupport for spiritual home of all Jewish people—Israel.This paper takes the time period from the end of World War II to the late1990sas a research scope; the study on post-war American Jewish active politicalparticipation could help us understand the position and attitude of American Jewstowards political events. Meanwhile, it also contributes to other ethnic minorities tolearn from each other, especially provides a reference for Chinese Americans’participating in politics.