African Security: Introduction, An

The world's fastest growing continent demographically, Africa displays nearly all the features of today's global security challenges: armed conflict, terrorism, irregular migration, organized crime, great power competition, public discontent, and economic turbulence. John Siko and Jonah Victor present their lessons from professional practice and pedagogical approach from the classroom in a concise guidebook that leads students and professionals through the most important issues, dynamics, challenges, and considerations for analysing and planning responses to security developments in Africa. This book provides issue-by-issue primers on the causes and consequences of Africa's security challenges that include: -how to anticipate security problems across current political and economic events -how to analyse African security institutions and military capabilities -how to understand historical trends across the African continent and appreciate unique variations among countries. -how to identify key drivers of future trends -how to connect security analysis to policy planning 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. - Connections and contrasts between the situations in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, which are traditionally studied separately. - Special sections on understanding race and ethnicity, and advice on traveling in Africa. - Chapter-end checklists of key questions to enable practical engagement with the topics covered.

Review: 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 *

Contents: Chapter One: Your Guide to African Security Chapter Two: Insecurity Before Independence Chapter Three: War and Peace in Independent Africa Chapter Four: Connecting North Africa to the Sub-Continent Chapter Five: Understanding Africa's Armed Forces Chapter Six: Understanding Africa's Religions, Religious Extremists and Violence Chapter Seven: Understanding Crime and Law Enforcement in Africa Chapter Eight: Anticipating and Responding to Military Coups and Mutinies Chapter Nine: Anticipating and Mitigating Election Violence Chapter Ten: Anticipating and Preparing for Economic Crisis in Africa Chapter Eleven: Ending and Managing African Conflict Chapter Twelve: Tracking External Actors, Influences and Competition in Africa Chapter Thirteen: Future Trends in African Security and Policy Options Bibliography Index

Author Biography: John Siko, based in Dubai, is a director of Burnham Global, a security consultancy. He previously spent 15 years in the US Government, entirely focused on African political, economic and security issues. This included long-term postings in Africa. Siko has taught courses on African security and politics at Georgetown University and George Washington University and is the author of Inside South Africa's Foreign Policy: Diplomacy in Africa from Smuts to Mbeki (IB Tauris, 2014). Siko has a doctorate in African politics from the University of South Africa. Jonah Victor, based in Washington DC, served as a US Government adviser on African affairs including at the National Security Council, the National Intelligence Council, and the Department of Defense. He has travelled professionally to 20 African countries and taught African security issues as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Victor holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University.