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Ideology, Conflicts, Africa: Where Do US Presidential Candidates Clash?
Ideology, Conflicts, Africa: Where Do US Presidential Candidates Clash?
Sputnik Africa
As we head towards one of the most momentous events of the year—the US election—it becomes critical not only to root for your champion but to understand the... 02.11.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-11-02T15:25+0100
2024-11-02T15:25+0100
2024-11-02T15:35+0100
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elections
donald trump
kamala harris
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united states (us)
north atlantic treaty organization (nato)
international monetary fund (imf)
ukraine
israel
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Ideology, Conflicts, Africa: Where Do US Presidential Candidates Clash?
Sputnik Africa
As we head towards one of the most momentous events of the year - the US elections - it becomes critical not only to root for your champion, but understand the potential outcomes of the winner in this race for power. AfroVerdict host joins experts to get their view on the candidates' priorities for foreign affairs and effect on global issues.
The Republican Party's candidate Donald Trump "wants to deconstruct the government," according to Prof. Patrick Bond, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg. The professor uses examples of Trump pulling in personas, such as Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., into government, giving the former "charge of a commission to review all government regulations" and putting the latter "in charge of all the health-related functions."For both candidates, "the main policy issue is the economy," since "the average American feels that over the last four years the economy was not really accommodating them," according to Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership, University of Johannesburg.Prof. Bond highlights that the priorities of Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's candidate, of "retaining many of the Biden initiatives, such as climate change provisions," will remain in focus. In addition, Harris is also "committed to maintaining US production of energy, including gas fracking in some key states."Concerning foreign affairs, each candidate's victory will reflect on the global economy as well as hotspots, such as Ukraine and Gaza.In contrast, Dr. Van Heerden underscores Trump's disapproval of the US "putting billions of dollars into NATO" for the sake of Europe's security.As for Kamala Harris, she "appears to mix" the return "to a multilateral strategy in which the US tries to respect its partners" with the [neo-conservative] ideology of exporting "American democracy" via "US corporate power using vehicles like the World Bank, IMF and, especially, the WTO," Prof. Patrick Bond says.US foreign policy regarding hotspots, such as the Ukrainian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, may also change depending on the candidate that wins office.Dr. Van Heerden believes that the "Democratic Party will try to twist the arm of Congress and make more funding available" for Zelensky. On the contrary, Trump "is very committed to put an end to [the Ukrainian crisis] very quickly."As for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Van Heerden believes that both candidates will continue "supporting the state of Israel."Regardless of the new administration, there is no need to expect any different approach towards African countries, according to Martin Zharare, CEO of a Zimbabwean NGO, Zimbabweans Against Economic Sanctions.Somewhat supporting Zharare's opinion, Prof. Bond believes the Democrats, particularly "the Harris project, which is carrying on Biden, which is carrying on Obama, really has nothing much to offer Africa." Bond believes projects like AGOA "and their promotion of climate politics" are poised as "more progressive" than Trump's approach.To hear more analytics on the upcoming US elections, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Afripods.► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict.
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elections, donald trump, kamala harris, joe biden, united states (us), north atlantic treaty organization (nato), international monetary fund (imf), ukraine, israel, world bank, 2024 united states presidential election, brics, global south, africa, african growth and opportunity act (agoa), аудио
elections, donald trump, kamala harris, joe biden, united states (us), north atlantic treaty organization (nato), international monetary fund (imf), ukraine, israel, world bank, 2024 united states presidential election, brics, global south, africa, african growth and opportunity act (agoa), аудио
Ideology, Conflicts, Africa: Where Do US Presidential Candidates Clash?
15:25 02.11.2024 (Updated: 15:35 02.11.2024) Viktor Anokhin
Producer, Podcast host
As we head towards one of the most momentous events of the year—the US election—it becomes critical not only to root for your champion but to understand the potential outcomes of the winner in this race for power. AfroVerdict host joins experts to get their view on the candidates' priorities for foreign affairs and effect on global issues.
The Republican Party's candidate Donald Trump "wants to deconstruct the government," according to Prof. Patrick Bond, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg.
The professor uses examples of Trump pulling in personas, such as Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., into government, giving the former "charge of a commission to review all government regulations" and putting the latter "in charge of all the health-related functions."
"But then the other big question is whether the policies to produce his first term cutting corporate taxes and creating more mayhem between different races, classes, and genders in the US," Prof. Bond critically points out.
For both candidates, "the main policy issue is the economy," since "the average American feels that over the last four years the economy was not really accommodating them," according to Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership, University of Johannesburg.
"They are thinking back to 2016-2020 under the Trump administration, where they were actually better off. So I do think on that score, on that policy issue, Trump is probably a little bit ahead from Harris," Dr. Van Heerden points out.
Prof. Bond highlights that the priorities of Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's candidate, of "retaining many of the Biden initiatives, such as climate change provisions," will remain in focus. In addition, Harris is also "committed to maintaining US production of energy, including gas fracking in some key states."
Concerning foreign affairs, each candidate's victory will reflect on the global economy as well as hotspots, such as Ukraine and Gaza.
"European relationships are most important, given that the debate about how to handle Ukraine is very serious and Trump often will posture that he can intimidate Putin and stop the war, but he has no evidence to suggest he can actually do anything serious in that conflict," Prof. Bond states.
In contrast, Dr. Van Heerden underscores Trump's disapproval of the US "putting billions of dollars into NATO" for the sake of Europe's security.
"His argument has always been, 'Why should America subsidize the security of Europe? European countries must take their own responsibility for their own security,'" Van Heerden explains.
As for Kamala Harris, she "appears to mix" the return "to a multilateral strategy in which the US tries to respect its partners" with the [neo-conservative] ideology of exporting "American democracy" via "US corporate power using vehicles like the World Bank, IMF and, especially, the WTO," Prof. Patrick Bond says.
US foreign policy regarding hotspots, such as the Ukrainian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, may also change depending on the candidate that wins office.
Dr. Van Heerden believes that the "Democratic Party will try to twist the arm of Congress and make more funding available" for Zelensky. On the contrary, Trump "is very committed to put an end to [the Ukrainian crisis] very quickly."
"There is no way he is making any more money available to Zelensky and to Ukraine. No weapons, no money. The war must end," Dr. Van Heerden stresses.
As for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Van Heerden believes that both candidates will continue "supporting the state of Israel."
"Both presidents, both parties will continue, unfortunately, supporting the state of Israel and the genocide that is meted out against the Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank and now also the Lebanese," he says.
Regardless of the new administration, there is no need to expect any different approach towards African countries, according to Martin Zharare, CEO of a Zimbabwean NGO, Zimbabweans Against Economic Sanctions.
"American presidents […] will really change nothing for Africa because their elections normally do not bring any change to us. Why? Because they do not take us maybe as part of the human people on this planet, or they don't take us as a serious continent," he explains.
Somewhat supporting Zharare's opinion, Prof. Bond believes the Democrats, particularly "the Harris project, which is carrying on Biden, which is carrying on Obama, really has nothing much to offer Africa." Bond believes projects like AGOA "and their promotion of climate politics" are poised as "more progressive" than Trump's approach.
"It doesn't really seem to make any difference because the whole project of [...] [trying] to assimilate the Third World seems to have failed pretty miserably, and the growth of the BRICS is just one reflection of that," Prof Bond concludes.
To hear more analytics on the upcoming US elections, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.
► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict. 
