Snippets from the CSIS's interview...

...with Professor Joel Barkan Concerning Democratization in Africa during GW Bush's Presidency

"...as the decade past, and particularly after 9/11, that democratization was seen very much as part of an overall counter terrorism strategy rather than a strategy to achieve a stable governance on the continent..."

He goes on to say that the bulk of Bush money to africa was spent in a few countries: Liberia, Sudan, DRC. While it's absolutely to provide aid and work to stabilize these states, Barkan believes a greater focus should be given to "aspiring democracies." These nations need support and attention just as much as crisis nations, and the US may see more results for the support and money given to these nations.

Some of the policy recommendations he offers:
+ restrengthen USAID--it's been "hollowed out"; rebuild personnel
+ mcc targets and rewards those african nation's "at the top" (= most democratized, most stable), but doesn't give enough attention to the "aspiring democracies"