In this study, the author examines the extent to which geopolitics in West Africa affect the overall implementation of the 2013 ECTS. The study adopted the qualitative case study design to enable the researcher elicit in-depth information for the analysis by engaging few security experts in face-to-face interviews. Official ECOWAS archival records (such as protocols, treaties, and communiques) will also be sourced. The paper suggests that harmonization of efforts and resources, strong political will and community spirit by ECOWAS member states will be the only way to go for sustained implementation of the 2013 ECTS in particular, and in building robust collective security in West Africa in general.
The ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Strategy (ECTS) was adopted in February 2013 by the Authority of Heads of State and Government to address the militant crisis in the region. But, for half a decade years after its approval, no significant efforts and progress are made in its overall implementation. Available evidence in the extant literature reveals that a combination of factors, including political tension among and within member states, funding and technical capacity limitations, and external factors, continues to undermine its implementation. It must be said that the kind of politics in the region have often been blamed for the ‘non-implementation syndrome’ of major ECOWAS initiatives at the national level.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- ABSTRACT
- 1.0 INTRODUCTION
- 2.0 METHODOLOGY
- 3.0 THE NATURE OF GEOPOLITICS IN WEST AFRICA
- 3.1 The Concept of Geopolitics
- 3.2 Modern Conception of Geopolitics
- 4.0 GEOPOLITICS AND [NON-] IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ECTS
- 5.0 CONCLUSION
- REFERENCES
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The objective of this study is to examine the impact of geopolitics in West Africa on the implementation of the 2013 ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Strategy (ECTS). The study aims to assess the extent to which geopolitical factors have hindered or facilitated the successful implementation of the ECTS, considering the challenges posed by militant groups and regional instability.
- The role of geopolitics in West African security
- The impact of geopolitical factors on the implementation of the ECTS
- The challenges posed by militant groups and regional instability
- The historical Francophone-Anglophone divide and its implications for security cooperation
- The significance of the principles of non-intervention, sovereign equality, and territorial integrity in the context of regional security initiatives
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- 1.0 INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of the security challenges faced by West African countries, particularly the rise of non-state armed groups and their impact on regional stability. It discusses the historical context of militancy in the region, highlighting the role of geographic, political, and socioeconomic factors in its emergence. The chapter also introduces the ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Strategy (ECTS) as a response to the growing threat of militancy in the region.
- 2.0 METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the research design and methodology employed in the study, emphasizing the use of qualitative case study approach. It outlines the data sources, including official ECOWAS documents and interviews with security and international relations experts. The chapter also explains the data analysis technique used, qualitative content analysis.
- 3.0 THE NATURE OF GEOPOLITICS IN WEST AFRICA: This chapter explores the concept of geopolitics and its relevance to international politics. It discusses the evolution of the term and its modern application in understanding global relations. The chapter also examines the historical roots of geopolitical thinking and its impact on the understanding of terrestrial space and the hierarchy of geographical scales.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this study include: geopolitics, West Africa, ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Strategy (ECTS), militant groups, regional security, non-implementation, Francophone-Anglophone divide, non-intervention, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, security cooperation, case study, qualitative research, content analysis.
- Quote paper
- Gilbert Aidoo Arhinful (Author), 2019, Geopolitics and (Non-)Implementation of the 2013 ECOWAS Counter Terrorism Strategy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/506336
