1st Edition
The African Union Pan-Africanism, Peacebuilding and Development
The African Union was established in July 2002 by African leaders, evolving from the Organization of African Unity (OAU). However the idea of the African Union can be traced to the Pan-Africanist movement. Timothy Murithi looks at the emergence of Pan-Africanism and how it was institutionalized through the Pan-African Congress and the OAU. He argues that the African Union represents the third phase of the institutionalization of Pan-Africanism. The book examines the limitations of the OAU and discusses whether the African Union can adopt a more interventionist stance in dealing with peacebuilding and development in Africa. The volume assesses the African Union's peace and security institutions and analyzes how it is beginning to collaborate with civil society. It takes a critical look at the Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and argues that Africa needs to adopt a developmental and governance agenda that will be much more responsive towards improving the well-being and livelihood of its peoples.
Biography
Dr Timothy Murithi is Programme Officer of the Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Switzerland.
'This is one of the best books, in recent years, critically analysing the new African Union as a normative and peace-building project. Dr Tim Murithi highlights the problems, challenges and opportunities in translating this normative project into practical programmes that affect the lives of ordinary African peoples. The African Union is a must read, and highly recommended for students, academics, policy and development practitioners.' Dr David J. Francis, University of Bradford, UK '...makes a valuable contribution to our thinking about the OAU's successor and where a pan-continental body such as the AU should go...will likely be a point of reference for all scholars working on this important - if neglected - international body.' Political ReviewNet 'Murithi offers a wide-ranging survey of the African Union's initial efforts to promote peace and development, and to engage with various actors within civil society.' Modern African Studies '...a timely and informative engagement with the emergence of the African Union (AU) and its recent initiatives. Murithi is an Afro-optimist, and his book breathes optimism and a sense lf "African can" on every page. This is much needed...' African Affairs
