Crafting an African Security Architecture: Addressing Regional Peace and Conflict in the 21st Century

Published:
July 5, 2010
Author:

The humanitarian crises caused by civil conflicts and wars in Africa are too great in scope for an adequate and effective continental response. The founding of the African Union and the drafting of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine, the basis for collective action against genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity makes this a critical time to reflect on how best to address regional conflicts. This book responds to new regional conflicts over health, water, land and food security in the world's poorest, most socially fragmented continent. The work assesses African regional security arrangements and provides new policy recommendations for the future.

Reviews: "[Crafting an African Security Architecture]…provides useful and timely insights into challenges and prospects for implementation of the principle of responsibility to protect in post-Cold War Africa. Its engagement with both the theory and practice of collective responsibility for common security in a fluid international environment makes the book particularly de rigueur. The plurality of perspectives immaculately woven together creates a seamless treatise of one of the most complex scholarly subjects of our time." Siphamandla Zondi, Institute for Global Dialogue, Midrand, RSA

"The creation of a sustainable continental security architecture is a vital component for Africa's development and positioning in the global system. Hany Besada's Crafting an African Security Architecture provides a wonderfully comprehensive and pragmatic overview of the key security debates, lessons,challenges and opportunities for Africa and its partners. The various contributors offer insights aplenty on military operations, security reform, the Right to Protect, governance, and other peace and security issues facing Africa. A new decade always requires a good guidebook; for anyone with an interest in African security, this book is an excellent place to start." Knox Chitiyo, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies [RUSI], UK

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