Exploring the story of Africa's contemporary history and politics through the lens of peacekeeping, this concise and accessible book, based on over a decade of research across ten countries, focuses not on peacekeeping in Africa but, rather, peacekeeping by Africans. Going beyond the question of why post-conflict states contribute troops to peacekeeping efforts, Jonathan Fisher and Nina Wilén demonstrate how peacekeeping is – and has been – weaved into Africa's national, regional and international politics more broadly, as well as what implications this has for how we should understand the continent, its history and its politics. In doing so, and drawing on fieldwork undertaken in every region of the continent, Fisher and Wilén explain how profoundly this involvement in peacekeeping has shaped contemporary Africa.

‘This perceptive and innovative account provides vital insights into an important and under-researched aspect of peacekeeping: why and how African states became hosts of peacekeeping missions and at the same time providers of peacekeepers. In short, what has peacekeeping meant for the continent broadly speaking? With their deep understanding of peacekeeping, African politics and history, Fisher and Wilén are perfectly positioned to answer this question. They have crafted a book that is essential reading for anyone who is interested in contemporary peacekeeping, especially those who want to go to a deeper level than narrowly understand the impact of missions as they deploy.’

Peter Albrecht - Danish Institute for International Studies

‘African Peacekeeping is a well-researched and innovatively written book providing critical analysis on peacekeeping by Africans. Wilén and Fisher delve into pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial African histories to provide a fascinating perspective on how peacekeeping is weaved into national, regional and international politics. What readers get from African Peacekeeping goes beyond the obvious, to the subject of the African state, dovetailing critically into the continent and its politics. Compelling reading from start to finish!’

Emma Birikorang - Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre

‘This is a comprehensive and historically rich account of African peacekeeping that will make a lasting contribution to scholarship. What sets this book apart from others on the market is the careful comparative analysis of the key roles that contributions to African-led peace operations play in the foreign policymaking of African states. This deepens our understanding of how, over time, African actors’ importance to peacekeeping has also translated into strengthened international relationships and more leverage in global policymaking. Read this compelling and lucid overview, and you will have gained a very good grasp of the global and evolving practice of peacekeeping.’

Linnéa Gélot - Folke Bernadotte Academy

‘… the book achieves a masterful balance of clarity and complexity, distilling major themes without sacrificing nuance, making it a rewarding read for both new and established scholars of peacekeeping and African politics. For readers unfamiliar with African peacekeeping, this book offers an excellent introduction, with a clear but nuanced argument supported by rich empirical evidence.'

Katharina P. Coleman Source: International Affairs

‘This is a first-rate, thoroughly researched, comparative analysis of a significant and under-explored topic. … Highly recommended.’

C. E. Welch Source: CHOICE

'… a very good, convincing, concise, and accessible study of the history and politics of 'African peacekeeping'.'

Bruno Charbonneau Source: International Peacekeeping

‘[A] flagship in studies of the African state and political regimes, regional security and international relations.’

Stiven Tremaria Source: Friedens Warte

‘… the book is a very good, convincing, concise, and accessible study of the history and politics of “African peacekeeping”. It is founded on strong fieldwork and years of research experience. … The emphasis on demonstrating how and what political formation or power structures and relations peacekeeping enables or enacts, is most needed in a field that still too often conceives of its object - peacekeeping - as an instrument for peace devoid of politics or isolated from power relations. It will be useful to both new-comers and experts of the field.’

Bruno Charbonneau Source: International Peacekeeping