Honourable Mention: West Africa: America’s foreign policy post 911 and the ‘resource curse,’ A head on collision

Abstract

After 911, oil resources in West Africa were declared a national security interest of the United States. Unfortunately, many West African oil producers are afflicted with the ‘resource curse,’ which is associated with economic decline, personal rule, and civil conflict. The ‘resource curse’ is a source of instability in West Africa and threatens the stable production and exportation of oil supplies in both the short and long term. Despite the potential cost of insecurity in West Africa, the United States is pursuing policies in the region that will neither prevent nor diminish the ‘resource curse.’ America’s foreign policy strategy in West Africa is influenced primarily by the American oil lobby, the war on terror, energy security concerns, and competition with China. These influences have culminated in a foreign policy strategy that is focused first and foremost on the militarization of Africa. While security is an essential component of development, this very security can be a liability when provided to a regime that is repressive, corrupt, and/or violent. America’s current foreign policy strategy has the potential to undermine the goals of the war on terror and the reduce America’s energy security. This paper concludes with a discussion of non-military strategies that the American government may wish to consider, which could avert the ‘resource curse’ in West Africa and consequently increase security in the region.