Understanding Africa’s Adaptability to Peace and Security Challenges

Abstract

‘African Peacekeeping Training Centres: Socialisation as a Tool for Peace?’ explores how activities of peacekeeping training centres are influenced by attempts to diffuse international norms to shape peacekeepers’ behaviour. The book contributes to the existing literature that examines the processes of socialization that take place within African peacekeeping training centres. The book focuses on two peacekeeping training centres, which have been selected based on their different approach to supporting continental peace: the Kofi Anna International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the African Centre for Constructive Resolution of disputes (ACCORD). The book uses qualitative methodologies to understand how African peacekeeping training centres construct knowledge and enhance peacekeepers’ capacities. However, the book concludes that there are limitations to socialization through peacekeeping training in terms of attitude and behavioural changes. This is not surprising given the limited time that peacekeepers spend at training centres and the scarcity of reflection time available and often given to peacekeepers in general. The book is composed of five main chapters that discuss various aspects of socialization within these centres. For example, in chapter one, the author presents the main research puzzle asking whether African peacekeeping training centres act as socialization agents of the peacekeeping profession. The socialization theory is primarily based on Checkel’s work. Chapter two examines the impact of liberal peace theory on international interventions and how these normative dimensions translate into practical and