Extremisms in Africa

Globally, it is recognized that a straight line exists between poor governance, transnational crime and extremist threats to stability and security. As UN Secretary General António Guterres puts it: "I am convinced that the creation of open, equitable, inclusive and pluralist societies, based on the full respect of human rights and with economic opportunities for all, represents the most tangible and meaningful alternative to violent extremism." Extremisms in Africa challenges both the efficacy and wisdom of purely militarizsed responses to extremist movements, typified by the Global War on Terror, as well as the cursory replication of international counter-terrorism frameworks promulgated by the United Nations and European Union in Africa. Emphasis is given to the importance of understanding local history, culture, regional geopolitics, among a variety of context-specific factors, to truly understand and thereby effectively address the emergence and spread of extremisms in Africa. As such, it draws on contributions from a range of thematic and regional experts, including security-sector specialists, conflict analysts, journalists, international relations and governance specialists