Beyond Bush: The future of popular movements & US Africa policy

In: Review of African political economy, Band 31, Heft 102

Abstract

This article reviews US policy towards Africa, arguing that continuity over the past four administrations far outweighs differences between presidential candidate Senator Kerry and President George Bush. If Kerry were to win the Presidential elections in November, this would not lead to any radical change in US-Africa relations. What is new over the longer term, and is posed so starkly by Bush's unilateralist and militarised actions, is the relentless development of a post-liberal world order and policy agenda. Opposition to this agenda by progressive movements and organisations focused upon such issues as debt cancellation, privatisation, and public health has already born fruit in Africa and elsewhere. The successes, failures, and contradictions of these new campaigns and organisations reflect the post-liberal conditions they work under, and are thus significantly different from the solidarity struggles of the past.
The assistance of Jim Cason was invaluable in constructing this essay, for which the author is very grateful.