Waiting for oprah &amp; the new US constituency for Africa

Martin, Bill

doi:10.1080/03056249808704290

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 25, Issue 75

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Waiting for oprah & the new US constituency for Africa

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research-article

Author(s): Bill Martin ^a

Publication date (Print): March 1998

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

Is Africa falling off the policy map in the United States as is commonly alleged? Or do the new policies and constituency‐building efforts emanating from Washington, signal an African renaissance in the United States? This essay argues that this debate hides a more significant development: the formation of a hegemonic coalition, promoting an ideology suited to the post‐development, post‐affirmative action, multiracial era. If coalesced, this coalition would replace the forces that kept progressive African policies on the public agenda for over a generation. The very character of elite policy groups reveals, however, their dilemma: neither capital nor the state is substantially interested in African development.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): March 1998

Volume: 25

Issue: 75

Pages: 9-24

Affiliations

^a Teaches at the University of Illinois , Co‐Chair of the Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS)

Article

Publisher ID: 8704290 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 25, No. 75, March 1998, pp. 9-24

DOI: 10.1080/03056249808704290

SO-VID: ce1b0f53-68b3-477a-a8cc-67353f382bd2

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 44, Pages: 16

Bibliographic note

The Africa Fund. . 1997. . “‘Nigeria Democracy Action Update’. ”. New York : : Africa Fund. .
Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS). . 1997. . “‘The Case Against DOD and CIA Involvement in Funding the Study of Africa’. ”.
The American Assembly. . 13–16 March. 1997 . “‘Africa and US National Interests’. ”. In Final Report of the Nineteenth American Assembly . , 13–16 March. , Harriman , New York : : Arden House. .
Babu A M. . 1996. . ‘Aid Perpetuates Dependency’. . ACAS Bulletin . , Vol. 47:: 5––7. .
Bond Patrick. . 1997. . ‘Fighting Neo‐Liberalism, The South African Front’. . Southern Africa Report . , Vol. 12((2)): 14––17. .
Booker Salih. . 22 March. 1996 . “‘Thinking Regionally: Priorities for US Policy Toward Africa’. ”. (Background Paper #5,). 22 March. , Washington, DC : : African Policy Information Center. .
Jim Cason ( 1996 ) ‘Introduction’ , Douglas J. Tilton (1997) USAID in South Africa: Learning Lessons, Continuing Debates , Washington : Africa Policy Information Center , , pp. 1 ‐ 16
1997. . ‘The US: Backing Out of Africa’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 71((24)): 147––53. .
Michael Chege ( 1992 ) ‘Remembering Africa’ Foreign Affairs , 71 1 : 146 ‐ 63
1997. . ‘Africa's Murderous Professors’. . The National Interest . , Vol. 46:: 32––40. .
Clarke Walter and Herbst Jeffrey. . 1996. . ‘Somalia and the Future of Humanitarian Intervention’. . Foreign Affairs . , Vol. 75((2)): 70––85. .
Cohen Herman J. . 1997. . ‘Clinton II: will Africa be up to the challenge?’. . Southern Africa Political and Economic Monthly . , February;: 19––21. .
Comte Bernard. . 1997. . ‘France's African Aid Policy: The End of an Era’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 71((24)): 139––47. .
Council on Foreign Relations. . 1997. . “‘Statement of the Task Force, May 1997: Promoting US Relations with Africa’. ”.
Goldberg Jeffrey. . 1997. . ‘Their Africa Problem and Ours’. . The New York Times Magazine . , March 2;: 34––77. .
Grundy Kenneth. . 1997. . “‘Stasis in Transition: United States‐South African Relations’. ”. In Change and South African External Relations . , Edited by: Carlsnaes Walter and Muller Marie. . p. 132––48. . Johannesburg : : International Thomson Publishing. .
Hanlon Joseph. . 1996. . ‘It's Time to Say No’. . ACAS Bulletin . , Vol. 47:: 31––33. .
Haas Peter. . 1997. . The Reluctant Sheriff: the United States After the Cold War . , Washington, DC : : Council on Foreign Relations. .
Harding Jeremy. . 1997. . ‘The Mercenary Business: “Executive Outcomes'”. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 24((71)): 87––97. .
Huntington Samuel. . 1993. . ‘The Clash of Civilizations?’. . Foreign Affairs . , Vol. 72:: 22––49. .
International Monetary Fund. . 1980, 1985, 1990, 1996, 1997. . Direction of Trade Statistics Yearbook . , Washington, DC : : IMF. .
Johnson Paul. . 1993. . ‘Colonialism's Back ‐ and Not a Moment Too Soon’. . Sunday New York Times . ,
Kaplan R D. . 1994. . ‘The Coming Anarchy’. . Atlantic Monthly . , Vol. 273:: 44––76. .
KRS‐ONE. . 1997. . “‘2nd Quarter ‐ Free Throws’. ”. In I Got Next . , CD, Zomba Enterprises. .
Korzeniewicz Roberto F and Moran Timothy P. . 1997. . ‘World‐economic trends in the distribution of income, 1965–1992’. . American Journal of Sociology . , Vol. 102((4)): 1000––39. .
Mandelbaum Michael. . 1996. . ‘Foreign Policy as Social Work’. . Foreign Affairs . , Vol. 75:: 16––32. .
Maringues Michèle. . 1997. . ‘France et Etats‐Unis en Afrique: de la ‘complementarité’ à la “concurrence"’. . Le Monde . , June 11;: 4
Michaels Marguerite. . 1993. . ‘Retreat from Africa’. . Foreign Policy . , Vol. 72((1)): 93––108. .
Minter William. . May. 1997 . “‘Making Connections for Africa: Constituencies, Movements, Interest Groups, Coalitions, and Conventional Wisdoms’. ”. May. , Washington, DC : : APIC. .
Mkhondo Rich. . 1997. . ‘Africa gives the US something new to think about’. . Cape Argus . , 30 May;: 14
National Summit on Africa. . 1997. . “‘An Overview of the Summit Process’. ”.
NGO US‐Africa Trade Policy Working Group ( 1997 ) ‘Statement to the June 1997 Denver Summit of Eight’ 9 June
Oduor Ong'wen ( 1997 ) ‘Why US‐Africa Growth and Opportunity Bill Fails the Test,’ September 9
Ofwono Opondo John Kakande ( 1997 ) ‘US trains for Peace‐Mbabazi’ New Vision ( Kampala ), 1 August
Sichone Owen. . 1997. . ‘The ineffectiveness of aid to Africa,’. . Southern Africa Political and Economic Monthly . , 15 June‐15 July;: 32
Silverstein Ken. . 1997. . ‘Privatizing War: How Affairs of State are Outsourced to Corporations Beyond Public Control’. . The Nation . , 28 July‐4 August;: 11––17. .
Srodes Jim. . 1997. . ‘Uncle Sam's Bid for Africa’. . Finance Week . , 5–11 June;: 14––17. .
United Nations Development Program. . 1992. . Human Development Report 1992 . , New York : : Oxford University Press. .
United States, Bureau of the Census. . Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1996 . , Washington, DC : : Bureau of the Census. .
United States, Department of State ( 1996 ), ‘US Trade and Investment in subsaharan Africa’ , 4 October
United States, USAID ( 1997 ), ‘US Merchandise Trade with subsaharan Africa’ , 4 Oct
Daniel Volman ( 1997 ), ‘Clinton Requests Small Increase in Aid for Africa’ , Africa Policy Report, Africa Research Project , 2 June
West Michael. . 1997. . “‘Like a River: the Million Man March and the Black Nationalist Tradition in the United States’. ”.
West Michael and Martin William G. . 1997. . ‘A Future with a Past: Resurrecting the Study of Africa in the Post‐Africanist Era’. . Africa Today . , Vol. 44((3)): 309––26. .

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] The Africa Fund. . 1997. . “‘Nigeria Democracy Action Update’. ”. New York : : Africa Fund. .

[2] Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (ACAS). . 1997. . “‘The Case Against DOD and CIA Involvement in Funding the Study of Africa’. ”.

[3] The American Assembly. . 13–16 March. 1997 . “‘Africa and US National Interests’. ”. In Final Report of the Nineteenth American Assembly . , 13–16 March. , Harriman , New York : : Arden House. .

[4] Babu A M. . 1996. . ‘Aid Perpetuates Dependency’. . ACAS Bulletin . , Vol. 47:: 5––7. .

[5] Bond Patrick. . 1997. . ‘Fighting Neo‐Liberalism, The South African Front’. . Southern Africa Report . , Vol. 12((2)): 14––17. .

[6] Booker Salih. . 22 March. 1996 . “‘Thinking Regionally: Priorities for US Policy Toward Africa’. ”. (Background Paper #5,). 22 March. , Washington, DC : : African Policy Information Center. .

[7] Jim Cason ( 1996 ) ‘Introduction’ , Douglas J. Tilton (1997) USAID in South Africa: Learning Lessons, Continuing Debates , Washington : Africa Policy Information Center , , pp. 1 ‐ 16

[8] 1997. . ‘The US: Backing Out of Africa’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 71((24)): 147––53. .

[9] Michael Chege ( 1992 ) ‘Remembering Africa’ Foreign Affairs , 71 1 : 146 ‐ 63

[10] 1997. . ‘Africa's Murderous Professors’. . The National Interest . , Vol. 46:: 32––40. .

[11] Clarke Walter and Herbst Jeffrey. . 1996. . ‘Somalia and the Future of Humanitarian Intervention’. . Foreign Affairs . , Vol. 75((2)): 70––85. .

[12] Cohen Herman J. . 1997. . ‘Clinton II: will Africa be up to the challenge?’. . Southern Africa Political and Economic Monthly . , February;: 19––21. .

[13] Comte Bernard. . 1997. . ‘France's African Aid Policy: The End of an Era’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 71((24)): 139––47. .

[14] Council on Foreign Relations. . 1997. . “‘Statement of the Task Force, May 1997: Promoting US Relations with Africa’. ”.

[15] Goldberg Jeffrey. . 1997. . ‘Their Africa Problem and Ours’. . The New York Times Magazine . , March 2;: 34––77. .

[16] Grundy Kenneth. . 1997. . “‘Stasis in Transition: United States‐South African Relations’. ”. In Change and South African External Relations . , Edited by: Carlsnaes Walter and Muller Marie. . p. 132––48. . Johannesburg : : International Thomson Publishing. .

[17] Hanlon Joseph. . 1996. . ‘It's Time to Say No’. . ACAS Bulletin . , Vol. 47:: 31––33. .

[18] Haas Peter. . 1997. . The Reluctant Sheriff: the United States After the Cold War . , Washington, DC : : Council on Foreign Relations. .

[19] Harding Jeremy. . 1997. . ‘The Mercenary Business: “Executive Outcomes'”. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 24((71)): 87––97. .

[20] Huntington Samuel. . 1993. . ‘The Clash of Civilizations?’. . Foreign Affairs . , Vol. 72:: 22––49. .

[21] International Monetary Fund. . 1980, 1985, 1990, 1996, 1997. . Direction of Trade Statistics Yearbook . , Washington, DC : : IMF. .

[22] Johnson Paul. . 1993. . ‘Colonialism's Back ‐ and Not a Moment Too Soon’. . Sunday New York Times . ,

[23] Kaplan R D. . 1994. . ‘The Coming Anarchy’. . Atlantic Monthly . , Vol. 273:: 44––76. .

[24] KRS‐ONE. . 1997. . “‘2nd Quarter ‐ Free Throws’. ”. In I Got Next . , CD, Zomba Enterprises. .

[25] Korzeniewicz Roberto F and Moran Timothy P. . 1997. . ‘World‐economic trends in the distribution of income, 1965–1992’. . American Journal of Sociology . , Vol. 102((4)): 1000––39. .

[26] Mandelbaum Michael. . 1996. . ‘Foreign Policy as Social Work’. . Foreign Affairs . , Vol. 75:: 16––32. .

[27] Maringues Michèle. . 1997. . ‘France et Etats‐Unis en Afrique: de la ‘complementarité’ à la “concurrence"’. . Le Monde . , June 11;: 4

[28] Michaels Marguerite. . 1993. . ‘Retreat from Africa’. . Foreign Policy . , Vol. 72((1)): 93––108. .

[29] Minter William. . May. 1997 . “‘Making Connections for Africa: Constituencies, Movements, Interest Groups, Coalitions, and Conventional Wisdoms’. ”. May. , Washington, DC : : APIC. .

[30] Mkhondo Rich. . 1997. . ‘Africa gives the US something new to think about’. . Cape Argus . , 30 May;: 14

[31] National Summit on Africa. . 1997. . “‘An Overview of the Summit Process’. ”.

[32] NGO US‐Africa Trade Policy Working Group ( 1997 ) ‘Statement to the June 1997 Denver Summit of Eight’ 9 June

[33] Oduor Ong'wen ( 1997 ) ‘Why US‐Africa Growth and Opportunity Bill Fails the Test,’ September 9

[34] Ofwono Opondo John Kakande ( 1997 ) ‘US trains for Peace‐Mbabazi’ New Vision ( Kampala ), 1 August

[35] Sichone Owen. . 1997. . ‘The ineffectiveness of aid to Africa,’. . Southern Africa Political and Economic Monthly . , 15 June‐15 July;: 32

[36] Silverstein Ken. . 1997. . ‘Privatizing War: How Affairs of State are Outsourced to Corporations Beyond Public Control’. . The Nation . , 28 July‐4 August;: 11––17. .

[37] Srodes Jim. . 1997. . ‘Uncle Sam's Bid for Africa’. . Finance Week . , 5–11 June;: 14––17. .

[38] United Nations Development Program. . 1992. . Human Development Report 1992 . , New York : : Oxford University Press. .

[39] United States, Bureau of the Census. . Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1996 . , Washington, DC : : Bureau of the Census. .

[40] United States, Department of State ( 1996 ), ‘US Trade and Investment in subsaharan Africa’ , 4 October

[41] United States, USAID ( 1997 ), ‘US Merchandise Trade with subsaharan Africa’ , 4 Oct

[42] Daniel Volman ( 1997 ), ‘Clinton Requests Small Increase in Aid for Africa’ , Africa Policy Report, Africa Research Project , 2 June

[43] West Michael. . 1997. . “‘Like a River: the Million Man March and the Black Nationalist Tradition in the United States’. ”.

[44] West Michael and Martin William G. . 1997. . ‘A Future with a Past: Resurrecting the Study of Africa in the Post‐Africanist Era’. . Africa Today . , Vol. 44((3)): 309––26. .