The United Nations, the Political Economy of International Organisations, and Managing Self-Determination Struggles in Africa

Abstract Self-determination campaigns remain a critical cause of ethno-linguistic conflicts and resultant humanitarian crises in many countries in Africa and other parts of the world. While the United Nations (UN), its agencies, and the international community at large are ever ready to intervene in humanitarian crises arising from self-determination conflicts, it has remained difficult to adopt criteria and procedures to proactively decide and resolve self-determination campaigns in a way that encourages non-violent approaches, and to nip violent approaches to self-determination agitation in the bud. This article argues that the role of the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security should include adopting certain criteria for implementing its declarations relating to the right to self-determination. The article avers that such measures would better enhance peace and nation-building in Africa than the current approach of non-action, which consists of waiting to intervene in ethno-linguistic conflicts and the consequent humanitarian crises. The article is based on the use of documentary data and desk research.