Peacekeeping
(2026) p.322-328- Abstract
In recent decades, African states have become some of the most prominent contributors to peace support operations, both via the UN and, increasingly, African Union, regional, and ad hoc arrangements. This entry surveys three key scholarly debates on this phenomenon: first, the reasons why some African states participate in these missions; second, the character and shape of African agency within what we refer to here as “African peacekeeping”; and finally, the evolution of African peace operations in the context of an increasingly polarised and divided global governance environment. We conclude that while peacekeeping is woven into the contemporary history and politics of every region of Africa, the continent’s participation in this... (More)
In recent decades, African states have become some of the most prominent contributors to peace support operations, both via the UN and, increasingly, African Union, regional, and ad hoc arrangements. This entry surveys three key scholarly debates on this phenomenon: first, the reasons why some African states participate in these missions; second, the character and shape of African agency within what we refer to here as “African peacekeeping”; and finally, the evolution of African peace operations in the context of an increasingly polarised and divided global governance environment. We conclude that while peacekeeping is woven into the contemporary history and politics of every region of Africa, the continent’s participation in this enterprise is constantly being reshaped by both shifts in global power politics and the actions of African states and regional organisations themselves.
(Less)
- author
- Fisher, Jonathan and Wilén, Nina LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- African Union, Peacekeeping operations, Security, Terrorism, United Nations
- host publication
- Elgar Encyclopedia of African Politics
- pages
- 7 pages
- publisher
- Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105037779620
- ISBN
- 9781035309290
- 9781035309306
- DOI
- 10.4337/9781035309306.00062
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 54671a53-391f-418b-8898-b0123fad3a60
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-20 15:16:34
- date last changed
- 2026-09-17 17:03:41
@inbook{54671a53-391f-418b-8898-b0123fad3a60,
abstract = {{<p>In recent decades, African states have become some of the most prominent contributors to peace support operations, both via the UN and, increasingly, African Union, regional, and ad hoc arrangements. This entry surveys three key scholarly debates on this phenomenon: first, the reasons why some African states participate in these missions; second, the character and shape of African agency within what we refer to here as “African peacekeeping”; and finally, the evolution of African peace operations in the context of an increasingly polarised and divided global governance environment. We conclude that while peacekeeping is woven into the contemporary history and politics of every region of Africa, the continent’s participation in this enterprise is constantly being reshaped by both shifts in global power politics and the actions of African states and regional organisations themselves.</p>}},
author = {{Fisher, Jonathan and Wilén, Nina}},
booktitle = {{Elgar Encyclopedia of African Politics}},
isbn = {{9781035309290}},
keywords = {{African Union; Peacekeeping operations; Security; Terrorism; United Nations}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{322--328}},
publisher = {{Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.}},
title = {{Peacekeeping}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781035309306.00062}},
doi = {{10.4337/9781035309306.00062}},
year = {{2026}},
}