ABSTRACT
The fifth chapter deals with the USA and Africa. It begins with a discussion of theories on imperialism and demonstrates how the USA’s non-territorial imperialism has been unique. It discusses theories of Magdoff, Steinmetz, Hardt and Negri, Harvey and Gramscian scholars like Cox to put the imperialism of the USA in perspective. It demonstrates how, with the fall of colonial empires, the USA began to play a pre-eminent role in the military conflicts as well as the economies of African countries, especially in the context of the Cold War, by underscoring the nature of Russo–American rivalry in Africa. In the process of examining the USA’s role in the context of globalisation, the chapter touches on a wide range of issues including the USA’s global war on terror and penchant for capturing and controlling resources, especially those related to energy security, for example oil. It underscores the impact and the responses, through social movements, to US-led imperialism in Africa.
