About the Book
This handbook provides critical analyses of the theory and practices of small arms proliferation and its impact on conflicts and organized violence in Africa. It examines the terrains, institutions, factors and actors that drive armed conflict and arms proliferation, and further explores the nature, scope, and dynamics of conflicts across the continent, as well as the extent to which these conflicts are exacerbated by the proliferation of small arms. The volume features rich analyses by contributors who are acquainted with, and widely experienced in, the formal and informal structures of arms proliferation and control, and their repercussions on violence, instability and insecurity across Africa. The chapters dissect the challenges of small arms and light weapons in Africa with a view to understanding roots causes and drivers, and generating a fresh body of analyses that adds value to the existing conversation on conflict management and peacebuilding in Africa. With contributions from scholars, development practitioners, defence and security professionals and civil society activists, the handbook seeks to serve as a reference for students, researchers, and policy makers on small arms proliferation, control and regulation; defence and security practitioners; and those involved in countering violence and managing conflicts in Africa.
Table of Contents:
PART I: Theory And Concepts.- 1. Background: Small Arms and Conflicts in Africa – A Fatal Combination – Usman A. Tar.- 2. Theoretical Parameters of the Proliferation and Regulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa – Usman A. Tar and Sunday Adejoh.- 3. The Political Economy of Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferations in Africa – Moses E. U. Tedheke.- 4. (En)Gendering the Small Arms Discourse: Women and the Management of Violent Conflicts in Africa - Caroline Obiageli and Agnes Okorie.- PART II: Topographies And Contexts.- 5. The Context of Small Arms Proliferation in Africa: State Fragility and Management of Armed Violence – Chris M. A. Kwaja.- 6. Mapping of Conflicts and Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferations in Africa - Taiye Oluwafemi Adewuyi and Mwanret Gideon Daful.- 7. External Influence, Failed States, Ungoverned Spaces and Small Arms Proliferation in Africa – Muhammad Dan Suleiman, Hakeem Onapajo, and Ahmed Badawi Mustapha.- 8. Borderland Security and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferations in Africa – Anthony Israel Rufus.- 9. Urban Dynamics and the Challenge of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa – Enoch Oyedele.- 10. Forests, Ungoverned Spaces and the Challenge of Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation in Africa – Usman A Tar and Yusuf Ibrahim Safana.- 11. “Resource Curse”, Resource Wars and the Proliferation of Small Arms in Africa –Otoabasi Akpan and Ubong Essien Umoh.- 12. Armed Conflicts, SALWs Proliferation and Underdevelopment in Africa Aliyu Mukhtar Katsina, Ahmed Mubarak Mashi and Mohammed Abdullahi.- 13. Civil Wars, Complex Emergencies and the Proliferation of Small Arms in Africa – Hussaini Jibrin and Umar Aminu Yandaki.- 14. Poverty, Greed and SALWs Proliferation in Africa – Ubong Essien Umoh and Otoabasi Akpan.- 15. Personality, Arms and Crime: The Psychological Dynamics of SALWs Proliferation in Africa – Philemon A. Agashua, Markus D. Shekwolo & Lawrence L. Orkuugh.- 16. Socialization, “Culture of Violence” and Challenges of Small Arms – Aminu Umar and Nachana’a Alahira David.- 17. Youth Bulge and Small Arms Proliferation in Africa: Guns, Generations and Violent Conflicts – John Tor Tsuwa.- 18. Gendered Construction of Conflict and Small Arms Proliferation in Africa – Omotola Adeyoju Ilesanmi.- 19. Guns, Arms Trade and Transnational Crime in Africa – Adewunmi J. Falode.- PART III: Institutional Framework And Dynamics.- 20. Military, Arms Monopoly and Proliferation of Small Arms in Africa - Al Chukwumah Okoli.- 21. Legislation, Institution-Building and the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa –Shuaibu A. Danwanka.- 22. Police and the Control of Firearms in Africa –Dawud Mohammed Dawud and Tukur Abdulkadir.- 23. Civil Society and Arms Control in Africa – Auwal Abdulmalik and Moses T. Aluaigba.- 24. Traditional Institutions and Firearms in Africa: the Politics and Historiography of Small Arms and Conflict Management – Sanusi Muhammad Lawal and Bem Japhet Audu.- 25. Customs, Contrabands and Arms Control in Africa – Mubarak Ahmed Mashi and Habu Mohammed.- 26. Transport Networks and the Proliferation of Small Arms in Africa –Terzungwe Nyor.- 27. Multinational Corporations, Trafficking of Small Arms and Intractable Conflicts in Africa – Emmanuel Ukhami and Lassana Doumbia.- 28. Private Security Companies and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa – Jonathan Sule Maiangwa and Usman A. Tar.- 29. Economics of Armed Violence: Supply and Demand Sides of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa – Suleiman Sa’ad and Blessing Idakwoji.- 30. Information Communication Technology, Cyber-Security and Small Arms in Africa – Francisca Nonyelum Oguweleka.- PART IV: National Experiences.- 31. Central African Republic: The Contagion of Identity-linked Sectarian Violence, Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) and Small Arms Proliferation – Wendy Isaacs-Martin.- 32. Egypt: Arab Spring, Regime Crisis and the Proliferation of Small Arms –Nanven Audu Gambo.- 33. Ethiopia: Political Volatility and Small Arms Proliferation – Roy Love.- 34. Libya: The Proliferation of Small Arms Post-Ghaddafi - Dauda Abubakar and Sharkdam Wapmuk.- 35. Mali: Ecology of Terrorism and Small Arms Proliferation – Jude Cocodia.-36. Nigeria: Militancy, Insurgency and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons –Freedom Chukwudi Onuoha, Joachim Chukwuma Okafor, and Osinimu Osebeba Femi-Adedayo.- 37. Niger Republic: Small Arms and Asymmetric Warfare in a Volatile Neighbourhood – David Omeiza Moveh.- 38. South Africa: Xenophobia, Crime and Small Arms Proliferation – Dorcas Oyebisi Ettang.- 39. Sierra Leone: Civil War, Democratic Collapse and Small Arms Proliferation – Sharkdam Wapmuk.- 40. Somalia: State Collapse and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons – Mala Mustapha and Haruna Yerima.- 41. Uganda: Protracted Conflict, Insurgency and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons – Andrew David Omona and Samuel Baba Ayegba.- PARTV: Regional Perspectives.- 42. West Africa: Regional Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation in West Africa - Oluwafisan Babatunde Bankale and Chukwuzitara Juliet Uchegbu.- 43. Lake Chad Basin: Transnational Insurgency, Counter-Insurgency and the Proliferation of Small Arms - Bashir Bala and Usman A. Tar.- 44. The Manor River Region: Volatility and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons – Uchenna Simeon.- 45. Southern Africa: Regional Dynamics and the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons – Pamela Machakanja and Chupicai Shollah Manuel.
About the Author :
Usman A. Tar is Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies, and Distinguished Endowed Chair of Defence and Security Studies (26RC Endowment) at the Nigerian Defence Academy. He is Director of the Academy’s flagship Centre for Defence Studies and Documentation. He is a member of the board of the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuidling Network (SSRC/APN), New York, USA. Previously he was Associate Research Fellow at the Africa Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Bradford, UK. He authored several books including The Politics of Neoliberal Democracy in Africa (2009), Globalization in Africa: Perspectives on Development, Security and the Environment (2016), New Architecture of Regional Security in Africa (2020), and Routledge Handbook of Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency in Africa (2020). He has consulted, or consults, for the Nigeria’s National Foundation for the Support of Victims of Terrorism (Victims Support Fund, VSF); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria; Konrad Adaneur Stiftung (KAS, German Development Fund); and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Nigeria. He is a member of Nigeria’s Presidential Think Tank on National Defence and Security, and served as a member of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee to review the national defence policy in 2015.
Charles P. Onwurah is a research associate at the Centre for Defence Studies and Documentation, Nigerian Defence Academy. He is pursuing a PhD in Defence and Strategic Studies at the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Nigerian Defence Academy. He has published on globalisation, private security companies, small arms and civil militias in Africa.
Review :
“The Palgrave Handbook of Small Arms and Conflicts in Africa is a volume that is incredible broad in scope and deep at the same time. Uman A. Tar and Charles P. Onwurah have certainly managed to assemble a team that has put together a handbook that offers orientation in a field that is overly complex and dynamic.” (Ulf Engel, Connections, July 15, 2022)
“Finally, through several case-studies, the book offers a wealth of national and regional experiences, providing an extraordinary analytical and practical framework for the issue of small arms and conflict in Africa. Drawing on an impressive range of specialists, the editors furnish a remarkable depth of information to address the issues raised by small arms on the continent. … This book can be recommended not only to specialists in conventional arms issues, but also to anyone interested in the African continent.” (Theò Bajon, International Affairs, Vol. 98 (2), 2022)
