Archive Report
Archive Report
Rising East-West Rivalry in Africa
Implications of New U.S. Policy Toward Africa
In the midst of a presidential campaign, the Ford administration is trying to forge a new U.S. policy toward the divided and diverse nations of Africa. The task is difficult and carries inherent dangers for the President, both in domestic politics and foreign affairs. For more than a decade the United States pursued a passive strategy, defending its strategic and commercial interests in Africa while maintaining the appearance of impartial relations with both the white-ruled states of southern Africa and the black nations that surround them. Within the past year the United States has been forced out of its passive posture by a series of events seemingly beyond its control.
The collapse of the Portuguese ...