Justifying Interventions in Africa [electronic resource] : (De)Stabilizing Sovereignty in Liberia, Burundi and the Congo /
Wilén, N.author.
Wilén answers the paradoxical question of how to stabilize a state through external intervention without destabilizing sovereignty. She examines the justifications for international and regional interventions in the cases of Liberia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Discourse analysis of official documents and over fifty interviews of external actors in the field provide a practical perspective. Furthermore, the social constructivist framework provides the theoretical background. Rather than reinforcing sovereignty, non-aggressive interventions neutralize target states in the sense that they become dependent on external capacity to maintain their stability. The conclusion is that interventions remain both controversial and paradoxical and the stated aim of reinforcing the state's sovereignty is questionable at best.
Description based upon print version of record.
Cover; Contents; Acknowledgements; List of Abbreviations; 1 The Study of Sovereignty, Intervention and Peace Operations in International Relations; I. Situating the study; II. Methodological reflections; 2 Analysing a Moving Target: The Complex Concept of Sovereignty; I. The sovereign state: Prerequisites; II. Analysing the interpretation of sovereignty; 3 Intervention, Justifications and Interpretations: The Case of ECOWAS in Liberia; I. A complicated history: Liberia; II. The actors and the decision to intervene; III. The reactions from the international community
IV. Partial conclusion: Destabilizing sovereignty?4 Sanctions, Justifications and Reactions: The Case of the Regional Initiative in Burundi; I. A segregated society: Burundi; II. The actors and the decision to impose sanctions; III. The reactions from the international community; IV. Partial conclusion: Destabilizing sovereignty?; 5 Intervention, Justifications and Interpretations: The Case of the SADC in the Congo; I. The Congo crisis becoming the endless crisis; II. The actors and the decision to intervene; III. The reactions from the international community
IV. Partial conclusion: Destabilizing sovereignty?6 Capacity-Building and Local Ownership: Indicators of Sovereignty?; I. Translating sovereignty to operational indicators; II. A practical vision of field concepts: Unclear definitions give vague functions?; III. The functions of capacity-building and local ownership: Reinforcing the target states' sovereignty and/or the United Nations' legitimacy; IV. Partial conclusion: How do the paradoxical functions of capacity-building and local ownership affect the interpretation of sovereignty?
7 (De)Stabilization: So What? An Analysis of the Political Consequences of the Interventions on a Regional and International LevelI. The practical consequences of the regional interventions in Liberia, Burundi and the Congo; II. The United Nations in Liberia, Burundi and the Congo: Building unstable states?; III. Partial conclusion; 8 Concluding Remarks; I. The utility of the analytical framework; II. Empirical findings; III. Theoretical findings; Notes; Bibliography; Index
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Wilén answers the paradoxical question of how to stabilize a state through external intervention without destabilizing sovereignty. She examines the justifications for international and regional interventions in the cases of Liberia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Discourse analysis of official documents and over fifty interviews of external actors in the field provide a practical perspective. Furthermore, the social constructivist framework provides the theoretical background. Rather than reinforcing sovereignty, non-aggressive interventions neutralize target states in the sense that they become dependent on external capacity to maintain their stability. The conclusion is that interventions remain both controversial and paradoxical and the stated aim of reinforcing the state's sovereignty is questionable at best.
International relations.
International organization.
Political sociology.
Peace.
Africa-Politics and government.
International Relations.
International Organization.
Political Sociology.
Conflict Studies.
African Politics.
Peace Studies.