Africa Notes: How British Policy Toward Africa Is Shaped and Executed - July 1988

July 27, 1988

There are four fundamental differences between the way policy toward Africa is formulated in the United States and Britain: (1) Since no separation of executive and legislative powers exists in the British parliamentary system, conflict comparable to that between the administration and Congress in Washington is unknown. British policy is thus generally homogeneous. (2) In practice, British policy is largely made by permanent (career) officials rather than by temporary politicians. (3) British policymakers do not see their prime function as shaping events in Africa, but as defending British interests as they relate to the continent. (4) British policy is generally pragmatic rather than ideological (e.g., marginal significance is attached to the label "Marxist").