The Foreign Service Journal, May 2004

M A Y 2 0 0 4 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 3 T HE M AGAZINE F OR F OREIGN A FFAIRS P ROFESSIONALS Foreign Service Journal (ISSN 0146-3543), 2101 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990 is published monthly with a combined July/August issue by the American Foreign Service Association, a private, non-profit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of the Journal, the Editorial Board or AFSA. Writer queries and submissions are invited, preferably by e-mail. Journal subscription: AFSAMembers - $13 included in annual dues; others - $40. For foreign surface mail, add $18 per year; foreign airmail, $36 per year. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mail- ing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Foreign Service Journal , 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. Indexed by Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS). The Journal is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos or illustrations. Advertising inquiries are invited. The appearance of advertisements herein does not imply the endorsement of the services or goods offered. FAX: (202) 338-8244 or (202) 338-6820. E- MAIL: journal@afsa.org. W EB: www.afsa.org. TE LEPHONE: (202) 338-4045. © American Foreign Service Association, 2004. Printed in the U.S.A. Send address changes to AFSA Membership, 2101 E Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-2990. J O U R N A L OREIGN ERVICE S F Editor S TEVEN A LAN H ONLEY Senior Editor S USAN B. M AITRA Associate Editor S HAWN D ORMAN Ad & Circulation Manager E D M ILTENBERGER Business Manager M IKKELA V. T HOMPSON Art Director C ARYN S UKO S MITH Editorial Intern D WIJEN J AYDEV M EHTA Advertising Intern W EI T AN Editorial Board J UDITH B AROODY , C HAIRMAN M ARK W. B OCCHETTI S TEPHEN W. B UCK P ATI C HAPLIN T ATIANA C. G FOELLER C AROL A. G IACOMO W ILLIAM W. J ORDAN L AURIE K ASSMAN H OLLIS S UMMERS B ILL W ANLUND T ED W ILKINSON F O C U S O N A F R I C A 18 / A FRICA C AN M AKE I T — A ND H OW W E S HOULD H ELP Amidst the daily drumbeat of dire news from Africa, there are also encouraging trends. The U.S. can and should help foster progress; here’s how. By Tibor Nagy 26 / A FRICA ’ S B IG S TATES : T OWARD A N EW R EALISM Most of Africa’s big states are dysfunctional, politically, economically and socially. Here is a new approach to their problems. By Marina Ottaway, Jeffrey Herbst and Greg Mills 35 / T HE A NATOMY OF C HANGE IN A FRICA In small events and experiments across the continent, the voice and structure of civil society are steadily emerging. By Charles Cobb Jr. 43 / AGOA: O PENING D OORS The African Growth and Opportunity Act has clearly brought about an increase in Africa’s involvement with the global economy. But more needs to be done. By Anthony Carroll 49 / M ANDELA , M Y H ERO Nelson Mandela is loved and respected worldwide for his courage, integrity and charisma. But his softer side came to the fore one memorable day. By Helen Lyman 52 / F ROM THE A FRICA F ILE : T HE B UILDING B LOCKS OF S UCCESS Members share stories of progress from around the continent. By Susan Maitra C ONTENTS Ma y 2 0 0 4 Vo l ume 8 1 , No . 5 F E A T U R E S N EO -I MPERIALISM AND U.S. F OREIGN P OLICY / 55 The Bush administration has argued that the 9/11 attacks ushered in a new geo-strategic reality requiring new domestic and foreign policy approaches. This is a false and dangerous premise. By Louis Janowski P REPARING FOR / 61 P ROMOTION P ANEL S EASON Whether you view a stint on a promotion panel as a public service or the equivalent of jury duty, here are some tips to make the experience less onerous. By David T. Jones and Stephen T. Smith Cover and inside illustrations by David Dean C O L U M N S P RESIDENT ’ S V IEWS / 5 Proud to Be Exceptional By Louise Crane S PEAKING O UT / 15 Saddam Hussein’s Trial: Due Process or Victor’s Justice? By Jason D. Söderblom R EFLECTIONS / 80 By Mark Wentling D E P A R T M E N T S L ETTERS / 7 C YBERNOTES / 12 B OOKS / 65 I N M EMORY /68 I NDEX T O A DVERTISERS / 78 AFSA N EWS / C ENTER I NSERT Page 18