The African Union: Autocracy, Diplomacy and Peacebuilding in Africa

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The African Union has been a major factor in establishing peace, security and development in Africa. Today, however, the intranational body is struggling in the midst of a perceived dissipating appetite for supporting continental institutions. Previously seen as the panacea to Africa's continuing problems with violence and corruption in society, under the slogan "African Solutions to African Problems", the African Union, this book argues, seems to have run its course. Recognizing that the measured successes in political emancipation which have been recorded across the African continent do not seem to have translated into economic and social gains for its 1.2 billion citizens, the AU adopted a new development framework dubbed "Agenda 2063". The framework calls on African leaders to rediscover the `Pan African' spirit and to create the `Africa Africans want'. In practice this means a new focus and engagement with the African Diaspora, tapping into their strong track-record in economic development. As this book shows however, there remain deep differences over the meaning, timing and sequencing of pan-African integration. Indeed, different member states have different understandings of the role of the African Union itself. This essential handbook, from one of the leading research institutions on the continent, seeks to uncover what some of those understandings are and why the unification project has remained so elusive. Cover Author Bio Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations List of Contributors Acknowledgements Introduction.
The African Union: A Decade and a Half Later Pan-Africanism and a Global Order in Transition The African Union and the Quest for Improved Governance, Security and Development Africa and its External Partners Structure of the Book Part I.
Pan-Africanism: From the OAU to the AU 1. The African Union and the Renaissance of Pan-Africanism The Concept of Pan-Africanism The Case for Pan-Africanism The OAU and Pan-Africanism The Case for ‘New’ Pan-Africanism and the African Union Breaking with the Past Challenges The Way Forward Conclusion 2. Pan-Africanism and the African Diaspora General Movements of Pan-Africanism 3. The Africa Group at the United Nations: Pan-Africanism on the Retreat Pan-African Origins of the Africa Group Mandate and Composition of the Africa Group Role of the African Union and its Relationship with the Africa Group Challenges and Achievements of the Africa Group Internal Challenges of the Africa Group Enhancing the Working Relationship Between the African Union and the United Nations Conclusion Part II Governance, Security and Development 4. The Evolving African Governance Architecture Conception/Theory of Governance in Africa Historical Context The African Governance Architecture (AGA): Origins and Evolution Operationalisation of the African Governance Architecture Synergy Between the African Governance and Peace and Security Architectures Complementarity Between the AGA and NEPAD Conclusion 5. The African Union: Regional and Global Challenges Mission of the African Union Institutions of the African Union The AU Commission Finances of the African Union What Capacities for the AU Comission? Capacities Required for the AU Commission to Deliver More Effectively on the AU Mission Appendix 1: Functions of the AU Commission Appendix 2: Functions of the AU Commission Chairperson 6. The African Peer Review Mechanism Establishment of the APRM The APRM Process Key Strengths Key Challenges Recent Developments Conclusion 7. The AU’s Peace and Security Architecture: The African Standby Force Context The African Peace and Security Architecture Pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture The African Standby Force Operationalisation of the ASF Challenges Opportunities Conclusion 8. The African Union’s Socio-Economic Challenges The Status of Socio-Economic Challenges in Africa Africa’s Strategies for Socio-Economic Transformation The Four Major Socio-Economic Policy Frameworks Contradictions and Limitations of Africa’s Socio-Economic Strategies Key Recommendations Conclusion 9. The African Union and its Relations with Sub-Regional Economic Communities AU-REC Relations in Historical Context The AU and the RECs on Economic Integration in Africa The AU and the RECs on Peace and Security in Africa Conclusion Part III The AU’s Potential Hegemons and External Actors 10. Caught Between Pan-African Solidarism and Realist Developmentalism? South Africa’s Pivotal Role in the African Union Continental Policy Context Mandela and Africa as Foreign Policy Priority Mbeki’s ‘Africa First’: Developmental Democratic Peace Doctrine The Zuma Government, the AU, and ‘African Advancement’ Nkosazana-Dlamini’s Ascendancy to AU Commission Chair, and Foreign Policy Building Credibility Through
Agenda 2063 Conclusion 11. The African Union and the United Nations: Crafting an International Partnership in the Field of Peace and Security Policies, Institutions and Routines Peacekeeping Missions Finance and Capacity Building Contested Issues Conclusion 12. The African Union–China Partnership: Prospects and Challenges From Bandung to FOCAC: A Historical Background China’s Instrumentalisation of Strategic Partnerships Assessing Africa’s Strategic Partnerships with China Sino–AU Peace and Security Initiatives: An Appraisal Comparing Chinese and African Union Strategies of Engagement Recommendations to Improve Africa’s Relationship with China Conclusion Acknowledgements Conclusion.
The African Union in Transition: Sustaining the Momentum Africa’s Leadership Deficit Addressing the Limitations of the AU’s Internal Processes The African Union at 15 Years: Sustaining Momentum for Change Select Bibliography Index