US Foreign Policy in Africa Essay Example for Free

US Foreign Policy in Africa Essay The question is that: what type of foreign policy should the US have with South Africa and the larger Africa? The answer of this question goes back to the foreign policy formulation and implementation of the United States government. According to the United States Department of State, the foreign policy approach for South Africa and the larger Africa is Transformational Diplomacy (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). The principle being expounded in this kind of foreign policy approach is partnership. During the past years, what is being applied to South African people is the principle of paternalism, but this has been a failure (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). The philosophy of transformational diplomacy is to do work with the people and not for them (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). In other words, the United States government must work hand in hand with the South African people as their partners for economic, social and political progress. The idea behind this foreign policy is to facilitate in helping the Africans to improve their lives by means of building their own nations and transforming their own futures (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). As such, the utilization of diplomatic power of the United States to reach this goal is instrumental for that matter. It is true that there are various conflicts in South Africa and the larger Africa. It could be remembered that Somalia gain benefits from the transformational diplomacy approach headed by the government of the United States. Somalia collapsed as a state for about 15 years due to war involving Ethiopian military, but with the foreign policy implementation of the United States in its benefit there was improvement (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). At present time, Somalia was guided to the path of recovery and stability by the United States government owing to its partnership ideals with the country. The people were being taught on how to get out from poverty and at the same time working with them for economic and political stability. There are methods that are followed by the United States in resolving conflicts involving the African race. These methods are considered part of the transformational diplomacy and proved to be useful and proper. First, there was a call for resolution of the conflicts in South African nations including the larger Africa. Second, the United States government have backed African conflict mediation processes and improved the capacity of the Africans to bring out peace support operations and combat terrorism within the continent (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). And lastly, there were also efforts to work with leading African mediators and with representatives of the United Nations, as well as the African Union and other African organizations. The transformational diplomacy approach is useful to retain peace in the African continent. Within the year 2001 and 2007, there were 6 wars that erupted in Africa and many people suffered to death (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). The partnership of the United States government and African s together with the United Nations resulted to ongoing recovery of the war-torn areas in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Burundi, Angola as well as the North and South conflicts in Sudan (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). Since the concept of democracy is an effective tool for peace and economic progress, the United States government tried to work with Africans in order to reject oppression and terror. Hence, it is always true that governments that mirror the popular will of the people are more likely to revere boundaries and human rights compared to those who failed to do so (â€Å"US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007†). Majority of the African nations are now working towards democratic governance with the help of the United States foreign policy formulation and implementation under the auspices of transformational democracy. References U. S. Department of State. (2007, February 15). US Foreign Policy in Africa for 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2008, from http://www. state. gov/p/af/rls/rm/ 80210. htm.