The complex nature of peace and security threats demands a profound approach that tackles the problem at its roots. Especially regional conflicts are highly interconnected with many causes and...Show moreThe complex nature of peace and security threats demands a profound approach that tackles the problem at its roots. Especially regional conflicts are highly interconnected with many causes and stakeholders, requiring the right collaborations between local, regional and international institutions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the African Union as a regional actor versus the United Nations as an international actor in addressing these complex challenges. The underlying motive is to research regional competences, difficulties and possibilities in the role as security actor. To do this, the regional and international response to the militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria is used to provide insight in the different dimensions of this conflict. It is argued that on the one hand, the African Union can act faster and is more relevant in cases of a regional conflict, but on the other hand suffers from a lack of neutrality. Besides this, the amount of resources and authority is limited, and financial means and legitimacy have mainly been provided by the United Nations up until now. Although the extent of influence is difficult to measure, the African Union has the potential to be of more significance and to increase its influence in effectively addressing regional conflicts on the African continent.Show less
International Relations theories have generally accepted the idea that the global system is structured by the principle of anarchy. In some regional systems however, the anarchical character of the...Show moreInternational Relations theories have generally accepted the idea that the global system is structured by the principle of anarchy. In some regional systems however, the anarchical character of the international politics has disappeared because of external hegemonic actors who have transformed the regional system into a hierarchical regional structure. In this structure, the distribution of power is affected to the extent that the regional dynamics are no longer determined by a state of anarchy but by a state of hierarchy, in which the hegemonic state renders regional competition by the subordinate states meaningless. Cooperation on conflict management in these regional systems is therefore bound to have different outcomes than in systems characterized by anarchy, as is shown in the case study of Central Asia, since uncertainty does not prevail and a central government (in the form of the hegemonic actor) is able to impose order on the regional members. Re-conceptualizing the systemic structure in which regional conflict management functions will enhance understanding of the changing world order, and improve predictions of state behavior in hierarchical regional structures.Show less
The research question in this thesis is: how do the measures of the Peacebuilding Commission in Guinea stimulate the implementation of civic nationalism in order to achieve positive peace? Firstly...Show moreThe research question in this thesis is: how do the measures of the Peacebuilding Commission in Guinea stimulate the implementation of civic nationalism in order to achieve positive peace? Firstly a literature review shows that the combination of nationalism studies and peace studies is not often made, which results in a lacuna. Secondly the theory-section sets out a theory about how nationalism can contribute to peacebuilding. Thirdly the data and methodology-section explains which materials and methods are being used. Fourthly, the context provides the necessary information to understand the analysis. Fifthly, the analysis follows, divided in three parts: national education, national symbolism and national reconciliation. Each part shows the plans of the peacebuilding missions, reviews it first steps and analyses its effects. Sixthly, the conclusion follows that this thesis is a small step in investigating the relationship between nationalism and peacebuilding.Show less
This paper intends to explain the discrepancy in Western response to cases of conflict which appear to be comparable, and it aims to do so through a realist study of the West’s self-interest...Show moreThis paper intends to explain the discrepancy in Western response to cases of conflict which appear to be comparable, and it aims to do so through a realist study of the West’s self-interest involved. By differentiating these comparable cases between ‘Western’ and ‘non-Western’, this paper intends to put forward the theory that the West is biased towards non-Western conflict management activities in general. Thereby contradicting the commonplace Western-based literature, this paper aims to voice an alternative interpretation of the reasoning behind Western responses to non-Western efforts of managing conflict. Through studying four cases of interstate conflict management activities which did not enjoy implicit Security Council approval, and two further comparable and illustrative cases of domestic conflict, this paper aims to present empirical evidence for the theory as proposed. This analysis will adhere to a qualitative research design, and it will combine elements of a content- and discourse-analysis, thereby relying on scholarly written work as well as on political and media discourse related to the selected cases. As this analysis will subsequently conclude, the selected cases indeed illustrate an inconsistency in Western response to either Western or non-Western conflict management activities, thereby ruling in favour of the here argued theory that the West is biased towards non-Western efforts of managing conflict. Due to the argued Western ‘moral high ground’ in international affairs, this bias is consequently portrayed as a standard by Western governmental leaders and by Western media, thereby leading to a one-sided discussion in which non-Western countries have an inherent disadvantage; something this paper intends to contradict.Show less
