Militancy and Violence in West Africa: Religion, politics and radicalisation

by James Gow (Editor), Funmi Olonisakin (Editor), Ernst Dijxhoorn (Editor)

Overview

This volume provides a systematic and cross-regional analysis of radicalisation, militancy and violence in West Africa.

Concern about terrorism in, or from, West Africa, has been recognised in academic research, and the adoption of militarised approaches to addressing it questioned. However, the basis for that questioning – the need to investigate factors such as the historical and socio-economic roots of militancy – is not developed, nor is it substantiated in existing studies. The significant impact of religiously motivated radicalisation and violence in West Africa upon international security makes it essential to understand the issues of militancy and violence in the region.

In this volume, the authors draw upon empirical research in West Africa to develop understanding in these areas. Over the course of several chapters written by leading experts in the field, the book successfully blends historical and conceptual analysis with new empirical research gathered from focus group discussions and research interviews. Each of these core studies is structured around five interrelated issues: tracing the antecedents of radicalisation; monitoring trends; identifying actors; anticipating possibilities; and analysing the strength of existing preventive mechanisms.

This book will be of much interest to students of African security, African politics, radicalisation, political Islam, war and conflict studies and security studies in general.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415821377
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/20/2013
Series:	Contemporary Security Studies
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

James Gow is Professor of International Peace and Security at King's College London. He is the co-editor of the Routledge Contemporary Security Studies book series.

Funmi Olonisakin is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Conflict, Security and Development Group at King's College London.

Ernst Dijxhoorn is a member of the War Crimes Research Group in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Militancy and Violence in West Africa, James Gow and ‘Funmi Olonisakin 2. Religion, Radicalization and Violence, Abdullah al-Saud and James Gow 3. Islamic Radicalization and Violence in Nigeria, Abiodun Alao 4. Islamic Radicalization and Violence in Ghana, Kwesi Aning and Mustapha Abdallah 5. Islamic Radicalisation and Violence in Liberia, Thomas Jaye and Abiodun Alao 6. Religious Militancy and Violence in West Africa: A Study of Islam in Sierra Leone, Kevin A. O’Brien and Ismail Rashid 7. Beyond Anglophone West Africa: Endemic Conflicts and Now Islamic Radicalism, Ernst Dijxhoorn and Boubacar N’Diaye 8. The Regional and International Implications of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in West Africa, Olawale Ismail