The Evangelical Roots of US Africa Policy

Abstract

Within the last 15 years, several factors (including the spectacular growth of their missionary activities in Third World countries) have transformed US evangelicals from staunchest isolationists to enthusiastic internationalists. Successful coalitions with other groups (like ethnic lobbies and humanitarian NGOs) and a receptive Bush administration have helped them gain unprecedented influence in US foreign policy towards the less developed world. Their influence in Washington's Africa policy (especially in relation to Sudan and foreign aid) is probably much deeper, more consistent and more able to survive a change of administration than the evangelical impact on any other area of US external relations.