Religion And Human Rights Foreign Policy In The United States

There is no doubt that American Religious Groups are an important part in the International Human Rights Movement. Not only they participate in International Human Rights Movement; but also they enriched the concept of "Human Rights"——with the addition of "freedom of religious beliefs". Through the following three major routes, American Religious Groups join in the International Human Rights Movement:Forming International Religious Organizations to facilitate assistances to the countries in need; Promoting International Missions to expand the notion of "freedom of religious beliefs"; Affecting American Human Rights Foreign Policies to impose pressure on other countries. The international hegemony and domestic political regime of America have provided religious groups friendly political environment. Religious Groups also increasingly rely on American foreign policy to achieve their human rights initiatives. With the invisible power of religious ideology and visible power of religious lobbying groups, Religious Groups have established a mature mechanism to influence American foreign policies. Also Religious Groups influence public opinions through social movement, and influence political elites by "permeating" in the political elite network. The interaction of public opinions and political elite network has finally made Religious Groups’human rights initiatives turn to be American foreign policies. The human rights activities of Religious Groups will also be faced with some limitations and obstructions.This dissertation will do a case study——2004<The North Korean Human Rights Act>——-to explain the mechanism with which Religious Groups influence American foreign policies, and also the obstructions they are faced with. The dissertation will be divided into five parts:Chapter One will summarize the existing theories on how American Religious Groups participate in International Human Rights Movement. Chapter Two analysis how Religious Groups influence public opinion through social movements by observing the organizations network, movement discourses, political actions and international initiative network in the "North Korean Human Rights Movements". Chapter Three explains how Religious Groups permeate in the political network by describing the process of legistration of<North Korean Human Rights Act>. Chapter Four analysis the controversial opinions on this Act both in U.S. and South Korea, and also the obstructions during the implementation of the Act. That will explain the limitation of Religious Groups’ influence on American Foreign Policies. At the end a brief conclusion will follow.Based on the observation, it is obvious that Religious Groups have established mature mechanism to influence American Foreign Policies, and this influence will be lasted since the alliance among human rights organizations, Religious Groups and Conservative Representatives in Congress has also been established. However, this influence will be limited with the framework of realistic politics and national security interests. Faced with the "Bureaucracy Inertia", American foreign policies will never be faith-based or faith-oriented.