Violence, Politics and Conflict Management in Africa: Envisioning Transformation, Peace and Unity in the Twenty-First Century

Description

This volume critically interrogates, from different angles and dimensions, the resilience of conflict and violence into 21st century Africa. The demise of European colonial administration in Africa in the 1960s wielded fervent hope for enduring peace for the people of Africa. Regrettably, conflict alongside violence in all its dimensions - physical, religious, political, psychological and structural - remain unabated and occupy central stage in contemporary Africa. The resilience of conflict and violence on the continental scene invokes unsettling memories of the past while negatively influencing the present and future of crafting inclusive citizenship and statehood. The book provides fresh insightful ethnographic and intellectual material for rethinking violence and conflict, and for fostering long-lasting peace and political justice on the continent and beyond. With its penetrating focus on conflict and associated trajectories of violence in Africa, the book is an inestimable asset for conflict management practitioners, political scientists, historians, civil society activists and leaders in economics and politics as well as all those interested in the affairs of Africa. Cover Title page Copyright page Contributors Contents Chapter One - Beyond the Politics of Power and Violence A guide through the book References Chapter Two - Double-Trouble: Reflections on the Violence of Absence and the ‘Culpability’ of the Present in Africa Introduction The Spectres of the Living Dead, Absence Presences and the Violence of Absence in Africa Evangelising existence of absence while creating the very absence in Africa: Retracing the duplicity of Empire Conclusion References Chapter Three - War without End? Terrorism, Policy and Conflict Management in Africa Introduction Interrogating Islam and Islamism Seed-bedding terror: Consequences of Somali State failure Kenya, Tanzania and Al-Shabaab Nigeria: Boko Haram Engaging religious fundamentalism: The African Union and new policy approaches Conclusion References Chapter Four - Violence, Identity and Politics of Belonging:T he April 2015 Afrophobic Attacks in South Africa and the Emergence of Some Discourses Introduction From xenophobia to afrophobia: On the dimensions of afrophobia Necklacing Third Force or institutionalised hatred of foreigners? The kwerekwere are stealing our jobs I am [South] African and you are ants and lice: A subversion of Ubuntu ethos Conclusion References Chapter Five - Violence, Power, Politics and (Anti-)development in Africa Introduction Recolonization by proxy and homemade black colonialists as the extension of divide and rule The role of parties to conflicts in resolving the conflict Ethnoconflicts and resources Reinventing new people and creating animosity The camouflage of divide and rule and blaming the victims by sparing the perpetrators Assimilation inhalation and perpetuation What should be done? References Chapter Six - Managing Politics of Knowledge Production in Africa: Exploiting Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Increasing Synergy between Community Development and Education Sectors Introduction An exposition of Africa’s current educational philosophy University Education in Post-Colonial Africa The politics of knowledge production in Africa Harnessing indigenous practices in the education curriculum Conclusion References Chapter Seven - Recognition Politics and Violence in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Introduction Politics of recognition Causes of the violence Strategy of peaceful engagement Era of violent agitation Conflict resolution strategy by the Nigerian State Consultative Crisis Management Approach (CCMA) Conclusion References Chapter Eight - Envisaged Trends in Post-2016 African Development Agenda and their Impact on World Economic System Introduction Conceptions of Development and underdevelopment The nature of African economic growth and development in the 21st century Green Revolution Blue Revolution Industrialisation, regional and continental integration Infrastructure Natural Resources African demographic dividend and urbanisation Human development Gender and women empowerment Interconnectedness of peace, security and sustainable development African Union Agenda 2063 Rising Africa and global implications Conclusion References Chapter Nine - African Indigenous Knowledge as Panacea for Conflict Management and Transformation in Africa: The Case of Ifa ́ in Nigeria Introduction Conflict management: Types, causes and solution Conflict resolution Conflict transformation Why conflict transformation? Conclusion References Chapter Ten - Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35) as a Model for Conflict Resolution: The Case of the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe Introduction Conflict at the Jerusalem Council: Acts 15 Circumcision The Law of Moses The issue of table-fellowship Wording that articulates conflict in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) Threat to the unity of the Christian Community The Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe: An overview The Jerusalem Council as a model of the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe Application of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) to the GPA in Zimbabwe Mediation Decision with compromise Conclusion References Chapter Eleven - Ubuntu/Unhu as Communal Love: Critical Reflections on the Sociology of Ubuntu and Communal Life in sub-Saharan Africa Introduction Seeking propitious knowledge What Ubuntu/Unhu is and is not Love beyond self and individualism Ubuntu as communal love African agency for transformation through Ubuntu Conclusion References Chapter Twelve - Instrumentalisation of Traditional Institutions in Xenophobic Violence against Zimbabweans in Botswana during the New Millennium Introduction Influx of Zimbabweans into Botswana during the new millennium The role of the Botswana national government in flaring xenophobic sentiments against Zimbabweans Attitudes of Batswana traditional leaders and rural communities towards the influx of Zimbabwean migrants Botswana traditional authorities and rural communities versus Zimbabwean migrants Conclusion References Chapter Thirteen - Problematising Victimhood and Agency: Women and Terrorism in 21st Century Introduction Women and girls as victims of terrorism in 21st century Africa Exploitation of women and girls as combatants in terrorist attacks Voluntary participation of women in terrorist activities Some insights into the role of women as agents in countering terrorism in Africa Conclusion References Chapter Fourteen - The Order of Things: Changing Identities in Eritrea through ICTs Introduction: The ‘Order of Things’ revisited Theorising Eritrean identities President Isaias’s speech: Innate values of resilience and resistance Stagnant identity: The ‘sole Eritrean’ Social media: The emergence of duality and diversity in Eritrean identities Collective trauma Redefining ‘Eritrean’ identity Conclusion References Back cover