U. S. foreign policymaking toward Ethiopia and Somalia (1974 - 1980)

Abstract

The US policy in the Horn of Africa during the 1970’s was marked by the constraints posed by the international
environment. The twin pillar policy formulated by the Nixon and Kissinger administration and later by the Ford
administration was continued in its basic purposes by the Carter administration* . However, Carter’s policy major
shift in 1979 – 1980 was not marked by the Soviet support for Ethiopia or the Somali abrogation of the treaty
with the Soviets. The U.S. policy making apparatus tended to misunderstand indigenous political changes in the
Middle East and particularly in Iran** . In addition, human rights proved a failed attempt to devise an alternative
strategy for rallying domestic support and to cope with international community.