Imperialism and U.S.-Africa Relations

Abstract

Since the 1940s, U.S.-Africa relations have expanded in terms of both the number of state actors on the African side and the modes of interaction. When the Cold War began, the United States’ relations with Africa were limited to Egypt, Ethiopia, and Liberia. This was because the rest of the current states on the continent were under colonial rule. Similarly, interactions were confined to the economic, political, and security realms. However, following decolonization in Africa and the concomitant increase in the number of African states, the United States’ relations encompassed several African states. The importance of the relationship was determined by their relevance, respectively, to its Cold War strategies. Correspondingly, the modes of interaction burgeoned to cover a broad range of cultural, economic, political, security, and social issues.