Edited by Alain Tschudin | Stephen Buchanan-Clarke | Lloyd Coutts | Susan Russell| Mandla Tyala |
Globally, it is recognised that a straight line exists between poor governance, transnational crime and extremist threats to stability and security.
“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.”
– António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General
Extremisms in Africa challenges both the efficacy and wisdom of purely militarised 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.
Emergence and spread
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, political scientists, social anthropologists, psychologists and theologians.
A diverse range of extremist movements on the continent are examined, from radicalised religious groupings to race-based organisations.
These case studies provide in-depth insight into answering why and how these movements came to be, while thematic chapters address issues pertinent to addressing them, such as public perceptions of extremism, methods of recruitment and radicalisation among marginalised communities, supporting survivors of extremism and former combatants, strategic approaches to counter-terrorism, the role of governance.
This is an introductory anthology and the first of its kind on this topic to be authored from – and published off – the African continent.
About the authors
Professor Alain Tschudin
SADC Executive Director Professor Alain Tschudin is a registered psychologist with a PhD in Psychology from Natal University. Alain was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, before returning to his studies, completing a MPhil in Divinity and a PhD in Ethics.
With a broad interest in research and community engagement, Alain has worked for universities and NGOs in Africa and Europe, such as the European Commission, and was the lead consultant for Save the Children and UNICEF in Africa and the Middle East.
He is an Honorary Research Associate on the Peace Building Programme at Durban University of Technology and was recently appointed as a Professor at the Wits School of Governance.
Stephen Buchanan-Clarke
Stephen is a Security and Development Specialist with experience working in conflict and post-conflict settings in Africa, primarily on issues of human rights approaches to security programming and policy formulation; transitional justice and reconciliation; and preventing and countering violent extremism.
He serves as Lead Researcher for the National Security Project at Good Governance Africa (GGA) where he co-edited Extremisms in Africa and Extremisms in Africa: Vol 2. He writes regularly for Afrobarometer on citizen perceptions of security in Africa as well as variety of news and media outlets on peace and security issues.
Lloyd Coutts
Lloyd trained in journalism at the SAAN School in Port Elizabeth and holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Media Studies (Hons) degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.
He has worked as a reporter, sub-editor, news editor, assistant editor and acting editor for such publications as Business Day, The Star, Business Report and Sunday World.
He has experience in wire services, notably the German Press Agency (DPA), and radio (Network Radio News and Classic FM). He has worked in television news at eNCA. Lloyd also has digital media training and experience, and worked at www.enca.com as the Africa Editor.
Susan Russell
Susan has more than 30 years’ experience as a journalist, editor, publisher, and as a general manager. After university, she spent four years at the Daily News in Durban as a hard news reporter, before moving to Johannesburg to take up a position as legal reporter for Business Day.
After moving to the Sunday Times in 1997 she worked as a sub-editor, assistant editor, section editor and marketing manager for the title. Moving into management, she was appointed General Manager: marketing for Times Media, sitting on the company’s Exco for eight years.
During that time, she had overall responsibility for the brand management and marketing of the Sunday Times, and also took on the role of publisher for The Times, a new weekday newspaper.
Mandla Tyala
Mandla is the Head of Programmes at GGA.
- PUBLISHER | Jacana Media |
- ISBN | 978-1-928232-61-2 |
- Recommended Retail Price | R280.00 |
- Classification | Current Affairs |
