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This research examines the foreign policy pursued by the Soviet Union in SubSaharan Africa. One characterization of Soviet policy toward SubSaharan Africa is opportunistic, and this examination considers the policy in that context. Soviet foreign policy with respect to SubSaharan Africa, however, is more than opportunistic. It is, or has at some point been, competitive, reactive, selfinterested, economically driven, and disinterested. Above all, Soviet policy has not been consistent over time, or consistent with respect to the several countries of SubSaharan Africa, and it may be changing in the Grobachev era. These characteristics of Soviet foreign policy toward SubSaharan Africa are considered, in addition to its tendency, at times, toward opportunism.

Under the leadership of Stalin, Soviet policy toward SubSaharan Africa, and, indeed, toward the Third World generally, was, for the most part, one of disinterest.1 Stalin viewed the Third World with disdain. Nevertheless, under the colonial

1S. Bailer, and M. Mandelbaum, The Global Rivals (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1988), 56.

1 2rule of the several European powers, communistoriented political groups were formed in the SubSaharan African countries. The primary goals of these political groups were gaining of political independence for their countries, and the establishment of proletarian governments in those countries.

The rise of fascism generally, and the rise of the Nazi movement in Germany in particular caused Stalin to review his position toward the Third World. He considered the defeat of fascism of supreme importance for the welfare of the Soviet Union. Thus, on the basis of Soviet selfinterest, Stalin adopted a policy toward the SubSaharan African colonies which was diametrically opposed to the goals of the communistoriented political groups in those countries. Through this policy, Stalin urged the peoples of the SubSaharan African cou...