The Eagle and the Bear in Angola

Abstract

The United States and the Soviet Union have supported opposing sides in Angola for more than a quarter of a century. Both superpowers have been stymied by their lack of control over their respective Angolan allies and frustrated by their lack of impact on determining events. Each of the superpowers has also been an unreliable patron for their Angolan clients. One important result is that, not surprisingly, most Angolans—no matter what side they are on—are highly skeptical and cynical about both the United States and the Soviet Union. While superpower intervention is usually justified in ideological terms, few Angolans are fighting for, let alone familiar with, any ideology. The war in Angola is hopelessly stalemated; neither side can possibly defeat the other and there seems to be no prospect for a military solution. Thus it becomes increasingly clear that only a political solution can end the war, but neither superpower is posturing for peace or seriously pursuing political solutions.