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Since the 1990s, ECOWAS has stepped into previously uncharted waters of peacekeeping and peace enforcement in intra-state civil wars in its back yard by violating the sacrosanct principles of sovereignty and non-intervention in domestic affairs of states. To this end, it has established a robust security structure and adopted norms and procedures. Thus, ECOWAS´ security architecture has become an alternative to traditional UN-led peacekeeping missions. And yet this pioneering experiment has faced theoretical and empirical challenges. The aim of this book is to invigorate the current discussion on the relevance of ECOWAS´ security framework in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peace enforcement. By invoking Buzan´s concept of security complex´, the book analyzes inter-state security interaction, amity and enmity among states, role of non-state actors and regionalization of conflicts in the sub-region. The analysis also sheds light on the challenges of ECOWAS´ security mechanism. This book is useful to academicians, state and non-state security actors, donors, or anyone who may be interested in security and regional integration in West Africa and the rest of the continent.

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Chalachew Tadesse received his MA in International Relations from Addis Ababa University, where he is now a candidate for PhD in Political Science. After working as a journalist for English newspapers and expert in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is now a lecturer at Governance and Development Studies Department, Hawassa University, Ethiopia.

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