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Kenneth Kaunda, the United States and Southern Africa carefully examines US policy towards the southern African region between 1974, when Portugal granted independence to its colonies of Angola and Mozambique, and 1984, the last full year of the Reagan administration's Constructive Engagement approach. It focuses on the role of Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, the key facilitator of international diplomacy towards the dangerous neighborhood surrounding his nation. The main themes include the influence of race, national security, economics, and African agency on international relations during the height of the Cold War. Andy DeRoche focuses on key issues such as the civil war in Angola, the fight against apartheid, the struggle for Namibia's independence, the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, and bilateral US/ Zambian relations. The approach is traditional diplomatic history based on archival research in Zambia and the USA as well as interviews with key players such as Kaunda, Mark Chona, Siteke Mwale, Vernon Mwaanga, Chester Crocker, and Frank Wisner. The result offers an important new insight into the nuances of US policy toward southern Africa during the hottest days of the Cold War.
List of contents
Prelude: Kaunda’s 1975 US Visit and Overall Significance
Introduction: Rise of Kaunda, Zambian Independence and UDI, 1960-74
1. Kaunda Gets Uncle Sam’s Attention, 1974-75
2. Debating Policy toward the Angolan Civil War, 1975-76
3. April 1976: Kissinger’s Landmark Speech and Kaunda’s Response
4. Kissinger’s Southern African Shuttle Diplomacy in 1976
5. Too Good to Be True: Kaunda and Carter Cooperate on Zimbabwe, 1976-79
6. Kaunda Asserts Agency: From Wanting US Missiles to Buying Soviet MIGs, 1980
7. Confronting Constructive Engagement and CIA Spies in Lusaka, 1981-82
8. Last Big Dance: Kaunda Meets Reagan and Hosts a Key Conference, 1983-84
Epilogue: Kaunda’s Ongoing Global Presence, 1994-2014
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Andy DeRoche is a history instructor at Front Range Community College, USA. His previous publications include Andrew Young: Civil Rights Ambassador (2003) and Black, White and Chrome: The United States and Zimbabwe (2001).
Summary
Kenneth Kaunda, the United States and Southern Africa carefully examines US policy towards the southern African region between 1974, when Portugal granted independence to its colonies of Angola and Mozambique, and 1984, the last full year of the Reagan administration’s Constructive Engagement approach. It focuses on the role of Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, the key facilitator of international diplomacy towards the dangerous neighborhood surrounding his nation. The main themes include the influence of race, national security, economics, and African agency on international relations during the height of the Cold War.
Andy DeRoche focuses on key issues such as the civil war in Angola, the fight against apartheid, the struggle for Namibia’s independence, the transition from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe, and bilateral US/ Zambian relations. The approach is traditional diplomatic history based on archival research in Zambia and the USA as well as interviews with key players such as Kaunda, Mark Chona, Siteke Mwale, Vernon Mwaanga, Chester Crocker, and Frank Wisner. The result offers an important new insight into the nuances of US policy toward southern Africa during the hottest days of the Cold War.
Foreword
Examines attempts by Kenneth Kaunda, Zambian president from 1964-1991, to assert African agency and attract international attention to the major crises in southern Africa (such as the wars in Angola and Rhodesia).
Additional text
There is no doubt that this is a significant monograph, attractively published.
