South Africa and the United States in a Post-Bush Era

The document analyzes the foreign policy platforms of candidates John McCain and Barack Obama ahead of the 2008 US election, arguing that while Africa will likely remain a low priority for any new administration, South Africa can leverage its role as a 'pivotal state' to secure military resources, trade benefits, and health funding. It highlights diverging candidate views on energy—with Obama favoring a 'cap-and-trade' system and McCain supporting increased nuclear power and Alaskan drilling—and suggests South Africa could engage the US on carbon-trading opportunities.

• Regardless of whether John McCain or Barack Obama wins the 2008 election, Africa is expected to maintain a low priority on the US foreign policy agenda, with the exception of specific issues that have strong support in US civil society, such as the atrocities in Darfur.
• The candidates hold opposing views on the war in Iraq: John McCain believes the US must stay until the war is won, potentially until 2013, while Barack Obama advocates for pulling US troops out by the end of 2009.
• On energy and environment, Barack Obama proposes a 'cap-and-trade' system to lower carbon emissions and a global response to climate change, whereas John McCain emphasizes ending foreign oil dependence through increased nuclear power and drilling in Alaska.
• South Africa is positioned as a 'pivotal state' and a valued partner for the US in Africa due to its democratic transition, macroeconomic policies, and leadership in the African Union, NEPAD, and the Southern African Development Community.
• The US became South Africa's largest trading partner in 2008, and the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provides significant economic benefits for South Africa and neighboring Southern African economies.
• South Africa has been a major recipient of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), receiving nearly $460 million between 2004 and 2006, and the document suggests this funding is likely to continue under any successor to George W. Bush.
• South Africa may find opportunities to engage the US in carbon-trading, as the country has previously sold emissions quotas for development funding from the World Bank.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). South Africa and the United States in a Post-Bush Era. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/saia_spb_01_saiia_sa_us_policy_20081001.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa and the United States in a Post-Bush Era. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/saia_spb_01_saiia_sa_us_policy_20081001.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa and the United States in a Post-Bush Era |date=October 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/saia_spb_01_saiia_sa_us_policy_20081001.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa and the United States in a Post-Bush Era}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/saia_spb_01_saiia_sa_us_policy_20081001.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }