CIAO DATE: 04/05

'Compassionate Conservatism' Comes to Africa

Abstract

The Bush administration's foreign policy priorities over the past year have left Africa worse off in a variety of ways. America's preoccupation with the "war on terrorism" and its military misadventure in Iraq have distracted attention and resources, injuring Africa politically and economically. The White House has turned the continent into geostrategic real estate, defining its value in terms of access to oil and military bases, and viewing US-Africa relations again through a cold-war-like lens. More broadly, to the extent that American actions have undermined the very notion of multilateralism, they remain directly at odds with Africa's interests. Africa's priorities—in particular, the fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty—are being ignored, and US unilateralism threatens to undercut international cooperation.

Full Text (PDF format, 5 pages, 76.6 KB)