Africa in U.S. and Soviet Policy; Change and Opportunity

Abstract

Since the initial meeting of the U.S.-Soviet Symposium on Contemporary Problems of sub-Saharan Africa in 1982 considerable change has occurred in the relationship between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. in regard to African issues, as well as in the relationship between the American and Soviet specialists on Africa. Apprehension was the quality that infused the initial meeting in November of 1982 of the first-ever formal exchange of views between Soviet and American Africanists. Both American and Soviet participants wondered whether the discussions would be substantive, scholarly, and constructive. Conversly, would their opposite numbers simply repeat official government positions, make debating points rather than engaging in discussion, and adopt an ideological and baiting posture? In other words, “would the Symposium simply turn into another forum for the exchange of “cold war rhetoric?