America's New Africa Command: Paradigm Shift or Step Backwards? Pham, J. Peter author text articles 2008 eng born digital pp. 257-272 Brown Journal of World Affairs 1080-0786 15 no. 1 no. 257 272 The article explores the origins of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), including the U.S. interests and developments in Africa motivating its establishment. It also outlines its structure in view of the key security and development lessons its designers seek to institutionalize. Prior to the formation of AFRICOM, U.S. efforts in Africa were handicapped by an antiquated structural framework inherited from times when the continent was barely factored into the U.S. strategic calculus. Policymakers and defense experts expect that AFRICOM will pursue more extensive interagency cooperation with the State Department and other agencies. AFRICOM's efforts represent the security dimension of the foreign policy set forth by the U.S. State Department. 10.26300/h3b7-fn43