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Congressional Black Caucus: The Role in Making the U.S. Domestic and Foreign Policies
 
PIIS013122270007310-2-1
DOI10.20542/0131-2227-2019-63-10-67-77
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Valery N. Konyshev 
Affiliation: St. Petersburg State University
Address: 7–9, Universitetskaya Nab., St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Aleksander Sergunin
Affiliation:
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University), The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
St. Petersburg State University
Address: 7–9, Universitetskaya Nab., St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Journal nameMirovaia ekonomika i mezhdunarodnye otnosheniia
EditionVolume 63 Issue 10
Pages67-77
Abstract

The article examines the role of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in the U.S. domestic and foreign policy making during the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations. The CBC structure, functions, main activities and relations with the executive power are analyzed. The CBC is one of the most influential congressional factions, which both other legislators and the executive branch of government reckon with. Under the Obama administration, CBC demonstrated the growing interest in foreign policy issues. At the same time, the U.S. color population-related problematique remained the CBC’s highest priority. Barak Obama, the first U.S. black president, failed to meet color people’s expectations while the black community viewed him as "its representative" in the government. He did not pay proper attention to the U.S. ethnic communities’ needs. On the one hand, his presidency was affected by tensions between Republicans and Democrats in the Congress which impeded implementation of his legislative agenda oriented to the color peoples’ needs. On the other hand, President Obama’s personal style was characterized by inconsistency and the lack of political will which again negatively affected his relations with the Afro-American community. Nonetheless, with the CBC support, a number of color population-focused programs have been launched in the areas, such as education, health care, social adaptation and immigration policies. Under the Republican president Donald Trump, the CBC retained its influence on American political process. However, its relations with the White House are of conflictual rather than cooperative nature. Particularly, the CBC is discontent with Trump’s policies in areas such as inter-ethnic relations, social security, health care, education, and immigration. The Black Caucus believes that Trump tries to undermine the fundamentals and achievements of Obama’s social policies that were beneficial for the U.S. color population and poor people. Given the CBC-Trump controversies on domestic policy issues, the Caucus does not pay much attention to the foreign policy problematique preferring to react to specific international challenges (for example, humanitarian issues or potential U.S. military interventions abroad) rather than to have a proactive foreign policy strategy. It should be noted, however, that the CBC does not completely identify itself with the Democratic party’s political course (although all its members are Democrats). For example, the CBC didn’t not support Washington's hegemonic ambitions and actions in the cases of the Syrian and Venezuelan crises or Trump’s overtly pro-Israeli policies in the Near East. Hopefully, in the future, when (and if) the U.S. political establishment will start to overcome its Russophobia, Moscow could cooperate with the CBC taking into account its important role in shaping Washington’s African and Latin American policies. As the CBC’s previous political activities demonstrate, this grouping can be open for cooperation in different ways, such as traditional and public diplomacy, inter-parliamentary links, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and so on.

KeywordsU.S. Congressional Black Caucus, domestic policy, foreign policy, Barack Obama, Donald Trump
Received25.10.2019
Publication date06.11.2019
Number of characters38097
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Table of contents

Институциональные особенности черного кокуса
Основные направления внутриполитической деятельности
Внешнеполитическая платформа
Черный кокус в эпоху Д. Трампа
* * *
1 Деятельность кокусов (групп, коалиций, фракций) внутри конгресса США, которых объединяют общие взгляды и цели по определенной проблематике в области законотворчества, представляет собой особый интерес. Это связано с тем, что порой законодательное поведение конгрессменов в гораздо большей степени зависит от членства в такого рода группе, чем от партийной принадлежности или лояльности к президенту. Из более чем сотни подобных организаций, зарегистрированных в Конгрессе, черный кокус (Black Caucus) является одной из весьма авторитетных и эффективных групп законодателей, которая не раз заставляла считаться со своим мнением как коллег внутри Капитолия, так и исполнительную ветвь власти.
2 Интерес к деятельности черного кокуса резко возрос с 2008 г., когда впервые в истории США президентом был избран афроамериканец Барак Обама. В обществе и в Конгрессе США возникли ожидания, что в разрешении социально-экономических проблем цветного населения произойдет существенный прогресс. Роль "приводного ремня" в планировании политики администрации и Конгресса в отношении афроамериканцев был призван выполнить именно черный кокус.
3 В этом плане актуальным представляется изучение ряда взаимосвязанных между собой вопросов. Как сложились отношения Б. Обамы с черным кокусом? Какова роль внешнеполитической проблематики в работе последнего, насколько эта сфера оказалась важна и какие приоритеты и принципы легли в ее основу? Что поменялось после прихода к власти Д. Трампа, который подверг резкой критике своего предшественника, оценивая многие направления его деятельности как провальные? Что можно ожидать от черного кокуса в перспективе?
4

Институциональные особенности черного кокуса
5 Черный кокус был основан в 1971 г., и первоначально членство в нем было открыто только для членов Конгресса афроамериканского происхождения. Формального условия по расовой принадлежности не было озвучено, но негласно члены кокуса решили, что эта группа законодателей должна оставаться "исключительно черной". Такая ситуация может быть оценена как реакция на фактическое существование доминировавшего в конгрессе "белого кокуса" на протяжении всей предшествующей американской политической истории.
6 По данным Исследовательской службы Конгресса США, со времени основания численность черного кокуса возросла в несколько раз (см. рис.). Резкий рост его численности с 27 до 40 членов приходится на начало президентства Б. Клинтона (1993 г.). Он еще в бытность губернатором штата Арканзас привлек на административные посты многих представителей афроамериканского населения, а в течение президентской карьеры одним из приоритетов его внутренней политики стала борьба с любыми проявлениями дискриминации. Согласно опросам общественного мнения, в 1998 г. Б. Клинтон пользовался поддержкой среди 93% афроамериканских граждан. Примечательно, что уже после окончания политической карьеры он перенес свой офис на 125-ю улицу в Гарлеме, "сердце Черной Америки" [1, pp. 1-2]. На президентство Б. Клинтона приходится значительный рост интереса черного кокуса к сфере внешней политики.

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