This paper is concerned with the calculation of the memory function and derivation of a kinetic equation for one-body phase space correlation functions. The theory uses a one-body additive projection operator and a division of the Liouville operator with an unperturbed part that describes dressed particles. Binary collisions are neglected, for the theory aims at describing the screening and backflow effects of a type contained in the plasma kinetic theory of Balescu and Lenard. We obtain an explicit kinetic equation which is an improvement of these theories for the plasma case, and involves the exact equilibrium pair and triplet distributions. The equation also describes systems with strong short-range forces and shows how the screening effects occur in this case as well. The unifying function is the direct correlation function. The theory is meant to provide understanding for a more complete theory of fluids where a proper account is given of close collisions.