Illegal Peace in Africa: An Inquiry into the Legality of Power Sharing with Warlords, Rebels, and Junta - Hardcover

Levitt, Jeremy I.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521888689 ISBN 13: 9780521888684

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2012

Synopsis

African states have become testing grounds for Western conflict-resolution experiments, particularly power-sharing agreements, supposedly intended to end deadly conflict, secure peace, and build democracy in divided societies. This volume examines the legal and political efficacy of transitional political power-sharing between democratically constituted governments and the African warlords, rebels, or junta that seek to violently unseat them. What role does law indicate for itself to play in informing, shaping, and regulating peace agreements? This book addresses this question and others through the prism of three West African case studies: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau. It applies the Neo-Kadeshean Model of analysis and offers a framework for a 'Law on Power-sharing.' In a field dominated by political scientists, and drawing from ancient and contemporary international law, this book represents the first substantive legal critique of the law, practice, and politics of power sharing.

About this title

Book Description:

This volume examines the legal and political efficacy of transitional political power-sharing between democratically constituted governments and the African warlords, rebels, or junta that seek to violently unseat them. This book addresses this issue and others through the prism of three West African case studies: Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau.

About the Author:

Professor Jeremy Levitt is Distinguished Professor of International Law, Associate Dean for International Programs and Director of the Center for International Law and Justice (CILJ) at Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law in Orlando, Florida. He is an international lawyer and political scientist with extensive experience working with governments, international institutions and NGOs in fragile states and conflict zones. Professor Levitt has authored two books and edited three, and written numerous law reviews and other articles. In 2009, he co-edited a highly regarded text with Matthew C. Whitaker titled, Hurricane Katrina: America's Unnatural Disaster and in 2008, published a groundbreaking edited volume titled, Africa: Mapping New Boundaries in International Law. His most recent single-author volume is titled The Evolution of Deadly Conflict in Liberia: From 'Paternaltarianism' to State Collapse (2005). He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in politics and international studies from the University of Cambridge, Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0521888689
• ISBN 13: 9780521888684
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 314