INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND AFRICA: U.S. FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO AND RWANDA

Abstract

The African continent occupies an ambiguous position in United States foreign policy, often characterized by strategic ambivalence compared to Eurasia or Latin America. This study examines U.S. policy toward the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda through three analytical frameworks: realism, liberalism, and constructivism. Realism emphasizes power competition, security interests, and strategic rivalry; liberalism emphasizes institutions, cooperation, and governance; constructivism focuses on norms, identity, and perception. Drawing on primary and secondary sources from the early 1960s to 2026, the analysis traces how these frameworks have informed policy decisions across historical periods. The findings show that U.S. policy has shifted between these frameworks in response to changing material and ideational conditions. Great-power competition, domestic political attitudes toward Africa, and reliance on local regimes for regional stability have each shaped policy priorities. Together, these factors demonstrate how theoretical approaches both guide and are reshaped by evolving geopolitical realities.