Promoting African Agency in International Security: a look at how the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) is influencing decision-making of resolutions within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Abstract

This research report aims to engage with International relations insights, particularly nonwestern scholarship on highlighting Africa’s role in International peace and security through the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) and its influence in the adoption of resolutions within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Examining the three hypotheses and their assumptions, the research report explores the actions of African actors (A3, AU, PSC, hegemonic state) and opposing members of the council (the P5, P3, SinoRussian coalition) to reinforce arguments for greater or diminished agency exerted by the Africa group at the UN Security Council. Second, the report unveils that the internal structure, institutional working methods, informal practices, and special powers by some members of the UNSC that manifest as external opposition, present significant challenges to the promotion of AA. The presence of dominant power rivalry, conflicting views, and divergent interests, as well as bureaucracy and politicisation at the UNSC, determine this external opposition. Third, considering hegemony in international relations and the Security Council, the report argues that the presence of a perceived continental hegemon that will dedicate its terms at the council to the advancement of African common positions plays a great deal in the promotion of AA. To make its case, the report selects South Africa, in its role as a perceived norm entrepreneur and symbolic hegemon, as well as endeavours inside and outside the council, as Africa’s regional hegemon through which to promote AA. Lastly, the report concludes that the presence of external opposition is far more influential than the presence of internal cohesion, in the promotion or curtailment of AA. The reason is that the structural tools and powers at the disposal of the permanent faction at the UNSC, which the African bloc simply does enjoy.