In Search of Warlords

This essay is a comparative investigation into two cases, in Liberia and Somalia, of ‘hegemonic peacekeeping’. It explains the motives of the two lead states - Nigeria and the United States-for their military interventions. The essay assesses the interests of the allies of both countries in accepting their leadership, and highlights some of the political difficulties that arose from the aggressive military tactics employed by the ‘hegemonic’ peacekeepers. The strategies of two powerful warlords, Charles Taylor and Mohammed Farah Aideed, are analysed. The essay stresses the importance of public relations, propaganda and the press in creating a public impression about the role of peacekeepers and in sustaining international support for peacekeeping missions. It concludes by suggesting ways of dealing with ‘spoilers’, as well as strategies through which the military and financial muscle of ‘hegemonic’ peacekeepers can be harnessed into more genuinely multilateral and accountable peacekeeping efforts, preferably under a UN umbrella

Hegemony · Peacekeeping · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · Global Political and Social Dynamics · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Public Administration

• Responding to state failure in Somalia

  Helge-Mari Loubser, Hussein Solomon•Africa Review•2014

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