Sub-Saharan Africa: An Assessment of Strategic U.S. Policy
Abstract
The United States has fewer and less important interests at stake in Sub-Saharan Africa than in any other major region of the world. In general, the area poses little threat to U.S. physical security and well being. There is no regional adversary currently capable of posing a physical threat to the U.S. nor is one likely to emerge in any foreseeable future. Nor are there any raw materials or goods and services indigenous to the region so critical to U.S. economic and security interests that their loss would have a serious impact on our welfare. The most serious threats to U S interests emanating from Sub-Saharan Africa are posed by a laundry list of troubles associated with the underdeveloped world, including drug trafficking, terrorism, environmental degradation, and disease. But these are irritants rather than substantial threats And although the endemic poverty and internal warfare common to much of Sub-Saharan Africa gives rise to large-scale refugee flows, the region is too far from U.S. shores to pose a serious immigration problem for the U.S. While it is true that developments in the region sometimes engage our humanitarian instincts, as was the case during the famine in Somalia, this engagement is itself a symptom of the failure of African political and economic systems to meet the basic needs of their people.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA441926
Entities
People
- John Schmidt
- Mike Beasock
- Philippe Alquier
Organizations
- National War College