An overview of the numerous inter-state and intra-state border, ethnic, religious, and political conflicts which have erupted throughout Africa since the end of the Cold War leads to an examination of various inter-African peacemaking and peacekeeping strategies and policies. These have evolved at the regional (Organization of African Unity) and sub-regional levels where African organizations aimed at economic cooperations and integration (such as Ecowas, IGAD, and SADC) are increasingly assuming a collective security dimension. The response of the international community to the challenge of humanitarian assistance to African refugees is also examined.

Against the background of contending notions of Afro-pessimism and Afro-optimism, the author considers various political and economic strategies of cooperation and integration. Throughout this engaging new book, Martin adopts a distinctly Pan-African approach. He argues that economic, political, and military unity among African states is necessary to enhance the power and status of African states in the contemporary world system.

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