The paradigmatic logic of the emergence of international and security communities in Africa

Thierno Thiam, Purdue University

Abstract

As major paradigms of international politics, liberalism, constructivism and realism all prescribe solutions for the security dilemma. But, whereas liberalism and constructivism point to the development of communities and specially security communities as a means to overcome the security dilemma, realism relies on power politics and interest. In this thesis, I use three African cases, notably the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in order to test the explanatory power of these three paradigms. My findings suggest that none of the paradigms provide a satisfactory explanation for the emergence of communities and security communities in Africa. Although liberalism and constructivism, in general, offer more elaborate theories of communities and security communities, their explanations for the emergence of the AU, ECOWAS and the SADC are faced with insurmountable obstacles. As for realism, although confronted with serious limitations, it constitutes a closer fit to all three African cases. Such a finding runs counter to the general literature about communities and security communities, which remains characterized by its Eurocentric approach.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Targ, Purdue University.

Subject Area

International law

COinS