Constructive Engagement?

Chester Crocker was President Reagan's Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1981 to 1988. This book presents an analysis of his policy of 'constructive engagement' with South Africa, Namibia and Angola. The policy was ostensibly designed to influence Pretoria away from apartheid. Crocker's priority in South Africa was a Cold War driven policy which would allow Washington to continue its strategically important relationship with Pretoria without the appearance of endorsing apartheid. He was sure of Margaret Thatcher's support. Under the auspices of constructive engagement, Crocker also linked the granting of Namibian independence from South Africa to the removal of Cuban troops from Angola. However, constructive engagement generated hostility towards Washington and Cuba gained credibility. So Crocker largely failed in his anti-communist agenda for the region. The analysis of Crocker's policy in southern Africa has an important relevance to the foreign policy dilemmas of today. Abuse of human rights makes disenfranchised groups vulnerable to terrorist recruitment. This analysis questions whether constructive engagement can provide a bridge between the pursuit of nati