This book interrogates the extent to which regional civil society organisations have evolved as actors in West Africa. Examining civil society democratic participation in regional integration and involvement in regionalism of peacebuilding, it rethinks how we study civil society in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. Beyond the functional typology of civil society actors as ‘partner’, ‘legitimiser’, ‘resistance/counter-hegemonic’ and ‘manipulator’, the book develops a new analytical framework to understand how organisations such as the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) and West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) have evolved. Offering analytical perspectives of the actorship of specific regional civil society actors, the book draws attention to the tendencies in the previous studies of mistaking an action or misdeed that is empirically specific to particular civil society organisations within a region to the generality of the civic space of the region. Providing an alternative perspective aimed at invoking a new intellectual conversation about civil society regionalism this book advances a new analytical framework of action-based regional identity of civil society, regional presence of activities, regional capacities and societal impact. It will be of interest to academics and scholars of international relations, global governance, African politics and comparative regionalism.
Author(s): Dele Kogbe
Series: New Regionalisms Series
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 213
City: London
Cover
Endorsement Page
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
List of Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgement
Introduction
The Research Project, the Question and Its Significance
The Main Contributions to the Literature
Overview of the Research Analytical Approach
Development of the Project
Organisation of the Book
Note
Chapter 1 The Making of Civil Society in African Regions and Regionalisms
Introduction
Regionalism and the Advent of Civil Society
Situating Civil Society in the Revival of Regionalisms
The New Regionalism in Africa as a Post-Cold War Phenomenon
Understanding Region to Understand Regional Civil Society
Analysing Civil Society in African Regionalism
What Is Missing in the Literature on Civil Society in African Regionalism?
Emphasising the Gaps: Bringing West Africa to the Centre
The Direction of the Study
Notes
Chapter 2 Analytical Framework
Introduction
How the Chapter Is Structured
From Revisiting Civil Society Regionalism to Analysing Its Actorship
Framing Civil Society Actorship through Reflectivism of the New Regionalism
Democratic Participation and Human Security
Regime Types versus Regional Norms and Civil Society Participation in Regionalisms
The Analytical Framework for the Book
Regional Identity
Regional Collective Identity versus Regional Social Identity
Regional Presence
Macro-regional Presence
Meso-regional Presence
Micro-regional Presence
Regional Capacity
Societal Impact
Conclusion
Note
Chapter 3 The Contextual Understanding of the Evolution of Regional Civil Society in West Africa
Introduction
The History of Regional CSOs in West Africa
Regional CSOs in a Colonial and Post-colonial Historical Reflection
The Post-colonial West Africa: States, the Regime and Civil Society
Inspirations/Rationale for Regional CSOs in West Africa:
Regional Shades of Security and Democracy: Shifting from a Regime-focused Regional Governance
How Civil Society Actors Regionalise to Contribute to Regional Governance
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 4 Civil Society and Democratic Participation in the West African Regionalism
Introduction
WACSOF at a Glance
Why WACSOF as a Case Study?
WACSOF and Its Governance Structure
The People’s Forum
The Executive Committee
Thematic Groups
WACSOF National Platforms
WACSOF in the Context of Regionalism/Regionalisation in Africa
Analysing WACSOF as a Regional Civil Society Actor
WACSOF’s Regional Social Identity
WACSOF’s Regional Presence
WACSOF’s Macro-regional Presence
WACSOF’s Meso-regional Presence
WACSOF’s Micro-regional Presence
WACSOF’s Regional Capacity
The Impact of Political Regime of ECOWAS Member States on WACSOF’s Capacity
WACSOF’s Societal Impact
Creating a voice for civil society in the ECOWAS Regionalism
Operationalising ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance
Collective Action against Child/Early Marriage
Other Notable Efforts of WACSOF
Weak National Presence
Contentious Identity, Ownership, Leadership and Governance
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 5 Civil Society and Regional Peacebuilding in West Africa: Assessing the Evolution of the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) as an Actor
Introduction
Brief Historical Background of WANEP in a ‘Troubled Region’
Justification of WANEP as a Case Study
WANEP’s Governance and Organisational Structure
Framing WANEP in the Context of Regionalism/Regionalisation in Africa
Analysing WANEP as a Regional Civil Society Actor
WANEP’s Regional Social Identity
WANEP’s Regional Presence
WANEP’s Macro-regional Presence
WANEP’s Meso-regional Presence
WANEP’s Micro-regional Presence
WANEP’s Regional Capacity in West Africa
Assessing WANEP’s Regional Capacity
The Impact of the Political Regime in the ECOWAS Member States on WANEP
WANEP’s Societal Impact
Conclusion
Note
Chapter 6 Conclusion
Introduction
Fulfilling the Book’s Aims and Contributions to the Literature
Theoretical Contributions of This Study
Empirical Contributions of This Study
General Lessons from Regional Civil Society Activities in West Africa
Relating to the Existing Study of Civil Society Regionalisation
Limitations
Potential Areas for Future Research
Post-Vision 2020 Insights into ECOWAS Regionalism
Final Comment
Notes
Bibliography
Appendices
Appendix 1: List of Host Organisations for WACSOF
Appendix 2: The List of Participants in the Study’s Interviews
Appendix 3: The List of WANEP’s Partners/Supporters
Index
