Minding the Gap

Pamela Aall is a senior fellow with CIGI's Global Security & Politics Program, leading the African Regional Conflict Management project. She is also a senior adviser for conflict prevention and management at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where she was founding provost of the USIP's Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. She is on the advisory council of the European Institute of Peace, and serves on the board of Women in International Security and the International Peace and Security Institute. Chester A. Crocker is a distinguished fellow at CIGI. He is the James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, and serves on the board of its Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. A former assistant secretary of state for African affairs (1981-1989), he served as chairman of the board of the USIP (1992-2004) and is a founding member of the Global Leadership Foundation. With Fen Osler Hampson and Pamela Aall, he has edited and authored a number of books on conflict management and mediation.

Foreword -The Right Honourable Joe Clark


PART ONE: INTRODUCTION


Conflict Management Capacity in Africa: Understanding the Problem and Designing the Solution - Pamela Aall


PART TWO CONFLICT IN AFRICA


Understanding the Nature and Origins of Violent Conflict in Africa -Raymond Gilpin


Crises of Political Legitimacy - Christopher Fomunyoh


Crises of War-to-Peace Transition and Civil War Recurrences - Funmi Olonisakin


The Dimensions of the Future of Conflict in Africa - William Reno


Religious Extremism, Insurgent Violence and the Transformation of the New African Security Landscape - Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou


Understanding the Resource Curse Effects: Instability and Violent Conflict in Africa - Cyril Obi


Crises of Secessionism, Boundary Irredentism and the Quest for Self-determination in Africa - Mulugeta Gebrihiwot


Regional Conflicts and Cross-border Activities Fuelled by Criminal and Terrorist Networks in West Africa - Kwesi Aning and Lydia Mawuenya Amedzrator


PART THREE RESPONDING TO CRISES: PEACE OPERATIONS AND MEDIATION


African Initiatives


The African Peace and Security Architecture and Regional Conflict Management Mechanisms - Jakkie Cilliers and Amandine Gnanguenon


Will the Lowest be First?: Subsidiarity in Peacemaking in Africa - Laurie Nathan


African-led Peace Operations - Comfort Ero


Mediation and Political Tools in Africa - I William Zartman


Eminent Peacemakers in African Conflicts: Contributions, Potential and Limits - Gilbert M. Khadiagala


African Peace Building: Civil Society Roles in Conflict - Alice Wairimu Nderitu


Role of the International Community -- Players and Roles


United Nations Peacekeeping in Africa - Paul D. Williams


Reflections on External Roles in African Security Affairs - Chester A. Crocker


International Support to African Peace Processes - Neha Sanghrajka and Meredith Preston-McGhie


Civil Society as Counter-power: Rethinking International Support Toward Tackling Conflict And Fostering Non-violent Politics in Africa - Sharath Srinivasan


PART FOUR -- CONCLUSIONS


Bridging the Gap - Chester A. Crocker and Pamela Aall