Figure 2.17: FIGURE 2.17 PHOTO ESSAY: Power and Politics in North AmericaPolitical freedoms are well protected and democratization is at a relatively high level in North America. The United States is often thought of as using its power to promote political freedoms and democratization on a global scale. There is some truth to this. However, strategic and economic interests often play a greater role in shaping U.S. actions abroad. For example, some U.S. officials who planned the Iraq War point out that the desire to control Iraq’s oil resources and those of its neighbors influenced U.S. actions there more than did the promotion of democracy. If the main U.S. interest abroad were the promotion of democracy, then sub-Saharan Africa would be a major focus of U.S. foreign aid and military installations, especially given the many violent conflicts that plague this region. As the map below shows, sub-Saharan Africa receives relatively little aid and has few U.S. military bases. Nevertheless, the United States has increased its presence there in recent years.