The world's fastest growing continent both demographically and economically, Africa displays nearly all the features of today's global security challenges: armed conflict, terrorism, organized crime, state failure, public discontent, and economic turbulence. African Security provides a current, comprehensive and compact guide to understanding Africa's chief security issues, providing a solid introduction for practitioners and students new to the field.
John Siko and Jonah Victor have developed and taught leading courses on African security problems at two of the world's leading schools of international affairs. They now present their unique lessons and pedagogical approach from the classroom in a concise guidebook that leads students through the most important issues, dynamics, challenges, and considerations for analysing and planning responses to security developments in Africa.
Learning is supported through the following features:
- Thematic chapters which are optimized to help the reader quickly connect to the key concepts and analytic frameworks within the field.
- The most relevant historical case studies, enabling students to engage in sophisticated analysis and discussion.
- Annexes which include practical information and advice on conducting research and travelling in Africa.
- Chapter-end checklists of key questions to enable practical engagement with the topics covered.
This textbook provides essential primers on the causes and consequences of Africa's conflicts, including:
-how to analyse military capabilities
-how to anticipate security issues
-how to understand the unique context of African security
-how to think about the key drivers of future trends
Industry Reviews
African Security introduces professionals and students to the broad range of security challenges and opportunities that Africa and its partners will confront in coming years. I wish we had this book for my staff when I was at the State Department. Siko and Victor take a practitioner's problem solving approach to anticipate the issues ahead in the 2020s, and connect readers to the latest academic research and case studies that can inform a response. In particular, this book highlights the lessons we have learned following a decade of dramatic
change in Africa, and gives us practical solutions for the future. * Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa *
An innovative and user-friendly approach to African security. Written in a direct style that will be accessible even for a novice audience, African Security manages to cover tremendous ground in terms of issues, actors, theories, and empirical cases. The main text, concise and to the point, is backed up by rich endnotes that guide the interested reader towards greater expertise. It embraces a holistic notion of security and takes the reader across many essential dimensions of African politics and society. A brilliant gateway to the study of African security by two specialists. * Pierre Englebert, H. Russell Smith Professor of International Relations, Pomona College *
An important addition to the growing literature on African security, this is a detailed study of a truly complex subject. Touching on a broad range of topics - from religion and crime to the role of external actors and the politics of military coups, Siko and Victor did a panoramic survey of the continent, and have provided an introductory book for key issues that have underlined Africa's security. It is well-written and brilliantly presented and students of African politics will find the book particularly useful. * Abiodun Alao, Professor of African Studies, King's College London *
Siko and Victor masterfully cover the waterfront in this accessible book on African security issues. It is packed with insights, anecdotes, and analytical frameworks that will enable student and practitioner alike to hit the ground running in their academic and professional careers. * Judd Devermont, Africa Program Director, Center For Strategic and International Studies *
Essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the complex and critical security issues facing Africa. African Security provides a thorough but concise overview of the security challenges that will directly affect stability, governance, and economic growth across the continent in the years ahead. I wish such a book had been available when I started working on Africa. * Grant T. Harris, Former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs at the White House; CEO of Harris Africa Partners LLC *
