The Reagan Doctrine and its Impact on Southern Africa: Where the US Laid the Groundwork for Financing Global Terrorism

Introduction:

Ronald Reagan, celebrated as a world statesman and champion of democracy by Republicans and Conservatives in the United States, had a different impact on the Third World, particularly Southern Africa. 

The Reagan doctrine, known as "constructive engagement," not only prolonged the lifespan of apartheid but also set the stage for the privatization of terrorist violence, which continues to shape twenty-first-century politics. 

This article explores Reagan's policies and their repercussions on Southern Africa, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of his presidency.

Reagan's Approach to Southern Africa:

Reagan's presidency began with an emphasis on being "helpful" to apartheid's leaders as long as they made efforts to reform the system. White South Africa was considered a friendly country and an ally in the fight against Communism. 

The cornerstone of Reagan's Africa policy was the concept of constructive engagement, based on the belief that regional peacemaking in Southern Africa would lead to internal changes within South Africa. 

This policy involved extraneous issues such as Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola. The Reagan administration believed that President PW Botha and his generals were capable of reforming apartheid.

Unintended Consequences:

Contrary to expectations, the 1980s became the bloodiest decade in the region's history. Backed by the US, the South African government pursued proxy wars in Angola and Mozambique, fueling conflicts between local groups, conducting commando raids into neighboring countries, and occupying Namibia. 

These actions resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, the displacement of communities, and the destabilization of economic systems. 

The UN estimated that the Angolan economy lost $30 billion during this period, while South African security forces carried out human rights abuses and propagated "black-on-black violence" narratives.

Resistance and Reluctance:

Despite widespread criticism, the Reagan administration persisted with its policy of constructive engagement. Botha's reforms, followed by increased state terror, were viewed by Reagan as a step in the right direction. 

Even when the US Congress enacted stringent sanctions against the South African regime, Reagan initially vetoed them, later reluctantly implementing the measures due to popular pressure. 

However, scholars now recognize that Reagan's policies in Southern Africa laid the groundwork for the birth of privatized violence, exemplified by groups like Al Qaeda.

The Legacy:

Political scientist Mahmood Mamdani argues that the US government shifted from direct intervention to supporting low-intensity conflicts through proxy states and private armed groups in the 1980s. 

Southern Africa served as a testing ground for this strategy, with groups like UNITA in Angola and Renamo in Mozambique being armed and trained by South Africa's Defense Force with US support. 

Renamo, in particular, became Africa's first genuine terrorist movement, perpetuating violence against Mozambican civilians. This approach was later adapted in conflicts across the globe, including Nicaragua and Afghanistan.

Read the original version by Sean Jacobs here.

Sean Jacobs, Founder and Editor of Africa is a Country, is on the faculty of The New School and a Shuttleworth Fellow.