Regional Economic Communities and Peacebuilding in Africa Lessons from ECOWAS and IGAD Routledge Studies in African Politics and International Relations Series

This book outlines challenges to the effective operation of regional economic communities (RECs) with regards to peacebuilding in Africa.

Critically examining these issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, with a focus on comparative analysis of the status, role, and performances of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), it examines particular constraints to their effective participation in regional initiatives. Focussing on inadequate technical capabilities, the complicity of state and non-state actors in conflicts within a region, the domestic politics of member states, it additionally addresses related theories and practices of peacekeeping, security, development, and the peacebuilding nexus. It also engages provisioning, regionalism, and regional peacekeeping interventions, the legal and institutional framework of RECs, and civil society and peacebuilding. Fundamentally, the book asks how effective the alliances and partnerships are in promoting regional peace and security and how much they are compromised by the intervention of external powers and actors, exploring new ideas and actions that may strengthen capacities to address the peacebuilding challenges on the continent effectively.

This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of African politics and studies, peace and security studies, regionalism studies, policy practitioners in the field of African peacebuilding, and more broadly to international relations.

The Open Access version of this book, available at:

http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003093695, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

1. Introduction: Regional Economic Communities and Peacebuilding in West Africa and the Horn of Africa 2. Regional Economic Communities and Peacebuilding in Africa: Analysis of Legal Framework and Concerns for International Law 3. Peacebuilding in Africa: Popular Progressive versus Neoliberal Peacebuilding 4. Towards a Human Security-Centred Approach to Peacebuilding: ECOWAS’s Experiences and Lessons 5. Civil Society Organisations and the ECOWAS Peace and Security Agenda: A Case Study of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) 6. ECOWAS and The Limits of Peace-making in West Africa 7. ECOWAS and Triangular Cooperation for Peacebuilding in West Africa: Challenges and Prospects form the Liberian and Sierra Leonean Experience 8. Nigeria’s Role in ECOWAS Peace and Security Agenda for West Africa 9. The IGAD-Eritrea Impasse: Future Prospects in Light of Recent Developments 10. Lessons to be Learned from IGAD’s Involvement in the Sudan Peace Process (1993-2005) 11. Kenya’s Diplomacy and International Relations within the IGAD Regian on Matters of Peace and Security: Growth, Development, and Prospects 12. Uganda and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) 13. Peacebuilding the Context of Ethiopia-IGAD Relations 14. The Big Elephant in the Room: The Meddling and Machinations of IGAD and Ethiopia in Somalia 15. 'You Don’t Own Peace': The Coward State, South Sudan and IGAD Relations

Victor Adetula is a Professor of International Relations and Development Studies at the University of Jos, Nigeria.

Redie Bereketeab is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden.

Cyril Obi is a Program Director at the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), New York, USA.