U.S. Security Cooperation with Africa: Political and Policy Challenges - Routledge Advances in International Relations and Global Politics 1. utgave

As Africa?s strategic importance has increased over the past decade and a half, the United States has increased security cooperation with the continent. The most prominent change has been the establishment of the U. S. Military Command for Africa (AFRICOM). However, critics are skeptical of AFRICOM?s purpose and regard it as a militarization of U. S. Africa policy. Although AFRICOM represents a departure from the traditional organization of military commands because of its Department of State component, it faces formidable challenges in reconciling American and African security interests. Africa has embraced a human security perspective, which emphasizes issues that go beyond traditional state-centered security to include protecting individuals from threats of hunger, disease, crime, environmental degradation, and repression as well as focusing on social and economic justice. In addition, a more assured and assertive African foreign policy posture, growing Chinese influence on the continent, constraints on U. S. policy stemming from commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan and domestic fiscal realities all complicate U. S.-African security cooperation.

Drawing on both primary and secondary sources and interviews with U. S. personnel, Robert J. Griffiths systematically traces the development of the U. S.-Africa security relationship, examines efforts to reconcile the security interests of actors with significantly different capabilities and priorities, and analyzes these developments in the context of international and regional security perspectives.