Multilateral Diplomacy : The AFRICAN UNION in a Multipolar World

The rising number of crises in Africa has put the African Union under the spotlight of the International Community which scrutinizes its efficiency. As an organization, the African Union is developing, and it is supported by many partners including the United States and China. Considering the African Union as a point of reference, scholars of political sciences and African studies have focused the bulk of their research effort into the downstream processes instead of the upstream ones. The downstream processes relate to the achievements of the African Union in fields of peacemaking and peacekeeping whereas the upstream ones deal with actions underpinning the development, and strengthening of the institution. Generally, the relation between the African Union and its above-named partners is rather marginal in literature. Moreover, research dealing with the strengthening of the institution are rare and very recent. Using constitutive research method and Regime Analysis, this book bridges the upstream and downstream processes. It reviews the internal structure and workings of the African Union as well as assesses its achievements in order to provide a balanced view on the institution.