Reimagining security communities: systems thinking approach for Africa

"Conflicts in Africa, interstate wars, civil wars, and protracted social conflicts, have increasingly spilled over national borders to become regional conflicts. In response, the international community has offered regional solutions. But will these conflicts be regionally contained? Onditi and his co-authors have taken up the challenge of rethinking regional security communities from a holistic approach. Building upon the foundations of scholars such as Barry Buzan and Karl Deutsch, this volume (de) constructs the AU's emerging peace and security architecture, to promote African centered solutions to problems of conflict that transcend the legacy of post-colonial boundaries denoted by the 'Curse of Berlin.'" — Douglas A. Yates, Professor of Political Science, American Graduate School in Paris, France "In a continent replete with a plethora of security challenges, the roles played by actors such as regional organizations in security community consolidation, enlargement and institutionalization are critical for Africa. This timely book is a masterpiece that broadens the epistemological debate on security communities and is a must for scholars, students and policy makers." — Korwa Gombe Adar, Professor of International Studies, University of Botswana This book utilizes a systems thinking perspective to propose a holistic framework of analysis and practice for the regional security community ("RSC") arrangement in Africa. In responding to the challenge of improving effectiveness of response to peace and security threats, African states tend to rely on ad hoc mechanisms. However, this approach has been mired with a myriad of structural limitations. The holistic framework reconfigures the traditional "RSC" into a simplified tool kit of "resources", making this text book ideal for students and advanced researchers in international relations, and all those concerned with regional security and strategic studies. Francis Onditi heads the School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Riara University, Kenya. Gilad Ben-Nun is Senior Lecturer at Leipzig University's Research Centre Global Dynamics, Germany. Edmond M. Were is Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kisii University, Kenya. Israel Nyaburi Nyadera is a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Government and Public Administration at the University of Macau. .

Intro -- Foreword -- About the Book -- Introduction -- Contents -- About the Authors -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- 1 Regional Security Community Theory -- Introduction -- Characterizing Regional Security Communities -- Evolution of the Deutschian Security Community Model -- Tenets of the Deutschian Security Community Model -- Shortcomings of the Deutschian Model -- Deutschianism in the African Regional Security Community -- Pillars of Systems Thinking for Regional Security Community -- Elements -- Interconnections -- Purpose -- Conclusion -- References -- 2 Approaches to Regional Security Analysis -- Introduction -- Traditional Approaches -- Alliances -- State-Centric Security Community -- Features of Traditional Approach -- Weaknesses of Traditional Approaches -- Non-traditional Approach/Contemporary Approaches -- Features of Non-traditional Approaches -- Weaknesses of Non-traditional Approaches -- Post-Contemporary Approach -- In Search of a New Approach to Peace and Security Analysis -- Features of Systems Thinking -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 Regional Security Community Arrangement in Africa -- Introduction -- Thinking a Regional Security Community in Twenty-First Century -- Mapping the African Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms -- SADC Standby Force -- ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) -- Geopolitical Context -- East African Community and the Eastern African Standby Force -- ECCAS and the Central African Multinational Force -- Arab Maghreb Union and North African Regional Capability (NARC) -- Intergovernmental Authority on Development -- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa -- Challenges of the African RSC: Overlaps and Sovereignty Issues -- Thinking Systems Thinking for Africa -- Conclusions -- References -- 4 African Peace and Security Architecture: Fit for Purpose? -- Introduction.