The African Union has been a major factor in establishing peace, security and development in Africa. This essential handbook, from one of the leading research institutions on the continent, seeks to uncover why the unification project has remained so elusive and the understanding of the issues surrounding it.

Table of Contents

• List of Illustrations
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Contributors
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction The African Union: A Decade and a Half Later - Tony Karbo and Tim Murithi
• Pan-Africanism and a Global Order in Transition
• The African Union and the Quest for Improved Governance, Security and Development
• Africa and its External Partners
• Structure of the Book
• Part I Pan-Africanism: From the OAU to the AU
• 1. The African Union and the Renaissance of Pan-Africanism - Kuruvilla Mathews
• The Concept of Pan-Africanism
• The Case for Pan-Africanism
• The OAU and Pan-Africanism
• The Case for ‘New’ Pan-Africanism and the African Union
• Breaking with the Past
• Challenges
• The Way Forward
• Conclusion
• 2. Pan-Africanism and the African Diaspora - Molefi Kete Asante
• General Movements of Pan-Africanism
• 3. The Africa Group at the United Nations: Pan-Africanism on the Retreat - Adonia Ayebare
• Pan-African Origins of the Africa Group
• Mandate and Composition of the Africa Group
• Role of the African Union and its Relationship with the Africa Group
• Challenges and Achievements of the Africa Group
• Internal Challenges of the Africa Group
• Enhancing the Working Relationship Between the African Union and the United Nations
• Conclusion
• Part II Governance, Security and Development
• 4. The Evolving African Governance Architecture - Khabele Matlosa
• Conception/Theory of Governance in Africa
• Historical Context
• The African Governance Architecture (AGA): Origins and Evolution
• Operationalisation of the African Governance Architecture
• Synergy Between the African Governance and Peace and Security Architectures
• Complementarity Between the AGA and NEPAD
• Conclusion
• 5. The African Union: Regional and Global Challenges - Hesphina Rukato
• Mission of the African Union
• Institutions of the African Union
• The AU Commission
• Finances of the African Union
• What Capacities for the AU Comission?
• Capacities Required for the AU Commission to Deliver More Effectively on the AU Mission
• Appendix 1: Functions of the AU Commission
• Appendix 2: Functions of the AU Commission Chairperson
• 6. The African Peer Review Mechanism - Amos Sawyer and Afeikhena Jerome
• Establishment of the APRM
• The APRM Process
• Key Strengths
• Key Challenges
• Recent Developments
• Conclusion
• 7. The AU's Peace and Security Architecture: The African Standby Force - Kasaija Phillip Apuuli
• Context
• The African Peace and Security Architecture
• Pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture
• The African Standby Force
• Operationalisation of the ASF
• Challenges
• Opportunities
• Conclusion
• 8. The African Union's Socio-Economic Challenges - Charles Mutasa
• The Status of Socio-Economic Challenges in Africa
• Africa's Strategies for Socio-Economic Transformation
• The Four Major Socio-Economic Policy Frameworks
• Contradictions and Limitations of Africa's Socio-Economic Strategies
• Key Recommendations
• Conclusion
• 9. The African Union and its Relations with Sub-Regional Economic Communities - Dawn Nagar and Fritz Nganje
• AU-REC Relations in Historical Context
• The AU and the RECs on Economic Integration in Africa
• The AU and the RECs on Peace and Security in Africa
• Conclusion
• Part III The AU's Potential Hegemons and External Actors
• 10. Caught Between Pan-African Solidarism and Realist Developmentalism? South Africa's Pivotal Role in the African Union - Chris Landsberg
• Continental Policy Context
• Mandela and Africa as Foreign Policy Priority
• Mbeki's ‘Africa First’: Developmental Democratic Peace Doctrine
• The Zuma Government, the AU, and ‘African Advancement’
• Nkosazana-Dlamini's Ascendancy to AU Commission Chair, and Foreign Policy
• Building Credibility Through Agenda 2063
• Conclusion
• 11. The African Union and the United Nations: Crafting an International Partnership in the Field of Peace and Security - Ulf Engel
• Policies, Institutions and Routines
• Peacekeeping Missions
• Finance and Capacity Building
• Contested Issues
• Conclusion
• 12. The African Union-China Partnership: Prospects and Challenges - David Monyae
• From Bandung to FOCAC: A Historical Background
• China's Instrumentalisation of Strategic Partnerships
• Assessing Africa's Strategic Partnerships with China
• Sino–AU Peace and Security Initiatives: An Appraisal
• Comparing Chinese and African Union Strategies of Engagement
• Recommendations to Improve Africa's Relationship with China
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements
• Conclusion The African Union in Transition: Sustaining the Momentum - Tim Murithi
• Africa's Leadership Deficit
• Addressing the Limitations of the AU's Internal Processes
• The African Union at 15 Years: Sustaining Momentum for Change
• Select Bibliography