Publications

Reports by the UN Office for Drug Control (UNODC) suggest that, over the past decade, transnational criminal networks have infiltrated West African polities up to the highest circles. By means of coercion and corruption, criminal elements are realising enormous profits while gaining influence over bodies politic on both the local and national levels.

Data compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) suggests that West Africa has become a major hub of Organised Crime, both in terms of volume and quality. Transnational Crime has spread into all spheres of public life through trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion. It is undermining state structures in virtually all West African countries.

Political ideologies are normally not easy to understand and to define. Too many descriptions of theories and interpretations have been published. Due to the fact that many people ask about the values and principles of Social Democracy, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung as a social democratic foundation tries to bring light into the darkness.

The national elections in Nigeria 2011 were labelled the freest and fairest in the history of the Nigerian democracy. Every election so far had been accompanied by violence but the outbreaks in Northern Nigeria 2011 reached a new level and are a testimony to the grievances in the region and the rising tension. Especially young adults were part of the crisis.

In the fourth of the series “Abuja Debates” the study “The Role of Nigeria in Regional Security Policy by Prof. Warisu Oyensina Alli was publicly presented for the first time. The ensuing discussion among experts on the panel and guests from the audience made apparent that dissenting opinions about the role of Nigeria in the region exist. That notwithstanding, it is likely that ECOWAS’ efforts in Mali will also reflect on Nigeria and her aspirations as a regional leader. So, can Nigeria be conceived of as the regional hegemon in West Africa?

The emergence of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) has raised many hopes and expectations. Its development is at the heart of integration processes throughout the ontinent and receives considerable international assistance. Much of the attention, however, is focused on the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities.

In order to integrate gender more systematically into its regional work in West Africa, FES had commissioned gender analyses of its thematic project areas in 2010.

The conflicts in northern Mali and the region of the central Sahara are increasingly complex. The region has traditionally been a pathway for many illegal commercial activities such as drug, arms or human trafficking from West and North Africa to Europe.

Elections remain a main trigger of violence and insecurity in West Africa, and security forces (police, gendarmerie, military) do play a key role in electoral processes in the region. The study at hands provides insights for those interested in improving electoral management and organizing free and fair elections, about how to securitize electoral processes and structure the involvement of security services.

Countries in the Gulf of Guinea belong to those richest in resources yet poorest in development, stability and governance. Moving beyond the traditional concept of the ‘resource curse’ this edited volume analyses from numerous angles the relation between resource wealth, citizens’ welfare, economic growth, probability of conflict and democratic governance.