Globalization and management of regional conflicts and security in Africa: The case of ECOWAS

Abstract

Globalization, characterized by liberalism, free market policies, information and communication technology, inter-connection, inter dependence, borderless border, etc, has made the world a global village. The new phase of the international political economy has challenged Africa to face her numerous conflicts, and security issues squarely. The pathology of conflicts and insecurity in such places in Africa as Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Angola, Chad, Congo (DRC), Cote d’ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, etc, have become so endemic in recent times affecting development and good governance, creating serious challenges to regional organizations ability to manage such conflicts and security. The paper analyzes regional conflicts and security challenges in Africa with special focus on West Africa. In the main, it explains several underlying concepts, theories and causes of regional conflicts. Furthermore, the article addresses major security concerns of the sub-region such as small arms proliferation, trans-border banditry and public order in post conflict societies. The study submits that regional preventive (preemptive) diplomacy initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) explains the practical design of its defense apparatus as a progressive indigenous institution for managing regional conflicts and security in Africa.

Keywords: Globalization, management, regional, conflicts, security, Africa.