2. Suggestions and recommendations for further studies
The United States is the epicentre of global transformation:
if the United States would never be the same again after September 11, such
reasoning implies, neither would the rest of the world. The purpose of the new
deployments is both to reduce the U.S. military «footprint» in
countries where the U.S. military presence has become a political burden for
host governments such as in Saudi Arabia. Cameroon does not need an American
military base, but should accept if America wants to use its territory for
transitional purposes. This is because, even in the absence of legitimacy, the
most common response to Western pre- eminence, at least at the level of
international relations, is accommodation: most of the world has tried to come
to terms, either willingly or grudgingly, with the contemporary global order.
It is not just a question of satisfying the West and the
international financial institutions that govern the world economy, but
building the future through liberal democratic principles and institutions.
This accommodation is important in understanding how to deal with the new shape
of geopolitical issues in the Gulf of Guinea. Taking steps not to provoke
traditional partners like France is important. In all, Cameroon must develop
proactive, offensive, not just defensive policies as she deals with all these
powers. Particularly with China, it will be important to think in the long
term, for what profit is there to have cheap goods today if we remain poor?
For America, as already stated above, Cameroon needs to define
specific policies as to what it wants to achieve. In reality, there are several
channels for American funds to flow to Cameroon, but that requires careful
planning by Cameroonian authorities. With the success of the American school of
Yaoundé, Cameroon should consider engaging the US in a soft-power
strategy for the creation of an American university in Cameroon.
For further studies, researchers have several issues raised in
this study but not addressed adequately. Among these, we could cite the
following;
1. How did Cameroonians perceive 9/11 and has that changed
their perception of the US?
2. What are the implications of the Iraq war on Cameroon-US
relations?
3. What future for American democratic mission in Africa? Or
is it possible to democratize Central Africa?
4. What should be Cameroon's foreign policy after attainment
of the HPIC initiative?
5. It is possible to study the practice of Balance of Power
in Central Africa, while assessing the weight of foreign powers.
6. What is the nature and reach of Indian foreign policy
toward Africa?
7. What are the challenges of a greater Chinese presence in
Africa?
8. Is AGOA able to spur development in Africa in its present
form? The same question could be asked of the MCA.
9. How do Cameroonians perceive the IRC in particular and US
public diplomacy in Cameroon in general?
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