John W. Collins / Air University (U.S.). Air Command and S
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Africa is emerging as a crucial focus area for United States security policy. The current administration’s dual security and humanitarian goals give rise to the question: What is the real foundation of U.S. foreign relations with African states? Is it based in interest or compassion? To answer these questions, this paper makes a case study of U.S. relations with Liberia. Liberia, an independent nation in 1847, grew out of settlements established by freed American slaves in the early 1820s. Despite assisting Liberia at various times in its early years, the United States remained relatively disinterested in Liberia until after WWI. In the 1920s, the United States involved itself heavily in Liberian affairs, forcing to accept a contract with the Firestone Corporation and then attacking Liberia’s sovereignty through the League of Nations to protect American financial interests. WWII eased U.S. pressure on Liberia, particularly since its geographical position in Africa made it strategically attractive to the United States, which built key infrastructure on Liberian soil. That strategic interest continued through the Cold War, the United States using Liberia as needed in the struggle against the Soviets. This interest peaked with the fall of the Americo-Liberian dominated government in 1980 and waned at the end of the Cold War when Liberia’s strategic value dropped precipitously. U.S. policymakers took a generally hands-off approach to Liberia’s civil war in the 1990s, although the reasons for this approach changed over time. In the final analysis, relations between the United States and African countries, such as Liberia, most certainly spring from self-interest. A unique opportunity now exists, however, to combine interest-based security policy with humanitarian efforts in establishing stable, flourishing societies in the African countries.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
