Voice of America: The Obama Administration and sub-Saharan Africa

Having faced multiple global emergencies during its first term, has President Obama’s administration paid enough attention to sub-Saharan Africa? Is more action needed to counter-balance China’s growing economic influence, emphasize democratization and human rights, and support the continent’s own security efforts? Richard Joseph suggests that the Obama administration has, in fact, invested in the continent by introducing new initiatives and maintaining support for programs started by his predecessors. He contends their impact will only become clearer in the future. 

 

Richard Joseph was one of three experts interviewed by Voice of America to discuss these important topics. The article can be read below, or on the Voice’s website.

 

The American Presidency and Democracy Promotion in Africa

 As a Board Member of the Council for a Community of  Democracies (CCD), Richard Joseph wrote an essay on the struggle to close the gap between words and deeds in strengthening democratic institutions in Africa. He contends that the Obama Administration has set the bar higher for democracy promotion in its June 2012 ”U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa”. His essay exploring its implications can be read below or on the CCD’s Democracy Dialogue blog of  August 23, 2012: http://www.ccd21.org/blog/joseph_africa_us.html

 

Strategic Priorities in Contemporary Africa: Part III

In the third of a three-part series for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Dr. Richard Joseph examines Africa’s “prismatic narrative,” in which African developments must be viewed “through the prism of how key dimensions interrelate and the complex interplay of local, regional, and global factors.” The article can be read below or on the Chicago Council’s website.

Beyond Prebendalist Systems: State, Democracy and Development in Africa

The following introductory remarks come from the final talk in a three-part series by Prof. Richard Joseph, delivered at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University on April 25, 2012. The remarks can be read below. The accompanying PowerPoint presentation can be found here, and video of the talk is available for viewing here.

Strategic Priorities in Contemporary Africa: Part II

In the second of a three-part series for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Richard Joseph discusses Africa’s “disaster narrative.” The article can be read below or on the Council’s website. The first article, on the “progress narrative,” can be found in the AfricaPlus archives.

Strategic Priorities in Contemporary Africa: Part I

In the first of a three-part series for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Richard Joseph examines Africa’s “progress narrative.” The article can be read below or on the Council’s website.

Can The Nigerian Project Be Salvaged? Growth, Democracy and Security

The following introductory remarks come from the second talk in a three-part series by Prof. Richard Joseph, and were delivered at Brown University on March 13, 2012. The lecture was co-sponsored by The Department of Africana Studies and the Watson Institute of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The PowerPoint can be downloaded here, and video of the lecture can be viewed here.