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{
  "authors": [
    "Marina Ottaway"
  ],
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  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
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  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "DCG",
  "programs": [
    "Democracy, Conflict, and Governance"
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    "Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa"
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Source: Getty

Other

Less Is Better: An Agenda for Africa

In the 1990s, the Clinton administration led the international community in pursuit of a grand vision of reforming African countries into modern free-market democracies. That vision, however, was a poor match for the reality of conflict and stagnation on the ground. U.S. resources fell short of the rhetoric, and the policy yielded few results.

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By Marina Ottaway
Published on Dec 19, 2000
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Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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In the 1990s, the Clinton administration led the international community in pursuit of a grand vision of reforming African countries into modern free-market democracies. That vision, however, was a poor match for the reality of conflict and stagnation on the ground. U.S. resources fell short of the rhetoric, and the policy yielded few results.

The next U.S. administration should acknowledge that immediate transformation of the continent is impossible. It should work first to create a better environment by providing debt relief, streamlining conflicting and unfunded financial-community mandates, concentrating assistance on stable countries, and assessing the negative impacts of single-interest NGOs. Africa will be helped most by a narrower U.S. policy focused on realistic goals.

About the Author

Marina Ottaway

Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program

Before joining the Endowment, Ottaway carried out research in Africa and in the Middle East for many years and taught at the University of Addis Ababa, the University of Zambia, the American University in Cairo, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

    Recent Work

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    Reactions to the Syrian National Initiative

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Marina Ottaway
Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program
Marina Ottaway
EconomyTradeForeign PolicySouthern, Eastern, and Western Africa

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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