ABSTRACT
At the beginning of the coalescence period in United States (US) and South African foreign policies towards Africa, US officials often couched their African initiatives in empathetic and collaborative tones. While they still conveyed American goals and ideas, it was done in such a way so as to stress that African input was being sought at every possible opportunity. In April 1997, a piece of legislation emerged in Congress called the 'Africa Growth and Opportunity Act'. Focussing on liberal economic issues offered a number of advantages for US foreign policy makers with regard to Africa. Focussing on liberal economic issues offered a number of advantages for US foreign policy makers with regard to Africa. While in a slightly different vein, the South African government's dampened ardour for GEAR, and therefore the liberally economic principles it encompassed, was just as apparent regionally. The turning point in the South African policy makers' commitment to GEAR and economic liberalism came in December 1997.
