Constraints on Superpower Intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Current trends portend continued, if not increased, superpower intervention in Africa. There is little doubt that the Soviet Union will continue to view Africa as a legitimate arena for low-risk competition with the West. In this competition Moscow relies heavily on the military instruments of diplomacy. This strategy is not going to be abandoned. Generally, the failures of the superpowers in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to a lack of understanding of the limitations facing superpower intervention there. These limitations are of two types. The first comprises those limits imposed by Africa itself, having their root in Africa's historical experience and economics realties. The second includes those imposed by the superpowers themselves, such as resource constraints and domestic considerations. If superpower competition continues to be a fact of life in sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years, it would be to our advantage if these limitations were more fully appreciated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA518292

Entities

People

  • Robert J. Lilley

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Africa
  • Competition
  • Geographic Regions
  • Information Operations
  • International Organizations
  • Intervention
  • Saharan Africa
  • Security
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Strategic Security Studies