The Causes of War and the Consequences of Peacekeeping in Africa

The creation of effective security regimes for conflict resolution is critical for Africa's stability and development. The essays explore the various attempts at peacekeeping in Africa and assess the advantages and disadvantages of the assumptions and strategies behind these efforts. This collection is particularly valuable also for its geographical breadth as the essays cover conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In the post-Cold War era of increased conflict in Africa, this book presents an urgent agenda for changes in political and security regimes.

During the past 40 years a number of different approaches has been used in efforts to maintain peace in Africa, from UN sponsored initiatives to regional efforts by African countries themselves. The contributors discuss the limitations of traditional military peacekeeping, and the importance of geopolitics and political economy in the resolution of disputes. Through the careful analysis of a wide range of cases, the authors reveal the complexities, the obstacles, and the opportunities involved in peacekeeping in Africa.