U.S.-Africa relations have a long history which goes back to the earliest days of the establishment of the United States as a country. Between the end of World War II and the collapse of the Soviet Union, those relations were dictated by the Cold War. The period between 1990 and 2008 was characterized by post-Cold War considerations, but the situation was uncertain at best as a number of African countries became embroiled in civil conflict.

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States has raised the expectation that U.S.-African relations will enter a new era given the fact that President Obama's father was African, and it is assumed that that President Obama will have a more sympathetic disposition toward Africa as the continent deals with its multitude of problems.

This lecture will attempt to address the various facets of the complicated relationship between America and Africa at a time when the most powerful politician in the world has strong African roots.

Lecturer: Julius Nyang'oro is professor and chair of African- and Afro-American Studies at UNC. He has served as a faculty member at Carolina since 1990. His research interest focuses on governance issues in Africa and the comparative political economy of development with Africa as the main focus. He has conducted research in at least a dozen countries in Africa and has published widely in the areas of development, democratization and governance. Among his publications are: "The State and Capitalist Development in Africa" (1989); "Discourses on Democracy" (1996); "Beyond Structural Adjustment in Africa" (1992); "Ethnic Structure, Inequality and Governance of the Public Sector in Tanzania" (2004); and "Civil Society and Democratic Development in Tanzania" (2006). He previously taught at the University of Asmara, Eritrea.

For more information, to be added to our mailing list or to register by phone, contact Ann-Louise Aguiar '76 at (919) 962-3574 or ccll@unc.edu.