African Renaissance? The Emerging Security Structure of the African Union

Lensa Kwadjo

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hicks, Barbara

Keywords

Africa, Security, African Union

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies

Abstract

The African Union, through its embrace of the �Responsibility to Protect� doctrine, has embarked on an ambitious peace and security agenda that allows it to intervene in crises that involve genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. However, the institution�s lack of adequate financial and logistical capacity has made external donors necessary partners in the new emerging security structure of the African Union. By comparing how the African Union and its external donors have decided on, and implemented peacekeeping missions in Burundi, Sudan, and Somalia, this thesis seeks to gauge the progress the institution has made towards building a security structure capable of addressing the intertwined collective security and development challenges facing the continent. This study shows that the convergence of interests among member states of the African Union and between the African Union and its external donors are crucial factors in determining the success of the organization�s efforts at conflict resolution. However, this analysis also shows that the lack of corresponding conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction policies affect the African Union�s ability to tackle the conflict and underdevelopment troubles the continent faces.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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