ABSTRACT
This chapter offers some initial thoughts on changes in United States of America (USA) foreign policy toward southern Africa during the evolving post-Cold War/post-apartheid era to complement the case studies on African foreign policy. The analysis builds upon a series of field interviews that were conducted during July 1996 with USA diplomats in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The chapter establishes the evolving regional context of USA foreign policy toward southern Africa. Trends are highlighted by focusing on the region's portrayal in the USA media and the evolution of foreign aid ties. It highlights five specific trends in USA foreign policy toward southern Africa: the centrality of trade, the 'regionalization' of foreign policy initiatives, bureaucratic dominance of the USA policy-making process, reassessments of direct USA involvement in African conflicts, and an uneven approach to democracy promotion. The 'regionalization' of foreign policy initiatives serves as an important component of USA foreign policy towards southern Africa.
