Dissertation Defense - Khadija Ali: The Role of Hegemonies within African Regional Organization’s Interventions

Dissertation Defense - Khadija Ali

The Role of Hegemonies within African Regional Organization’s Interventions: A comparative study of Nigeria in ECOWAS’s intervention in Liberia and Ethiopia in IGAD’s intervention in Somalia

Wednesday, March 19th
9:00am - 11:00am
Metropolitan Building Room 5183

Committee: Terrence Lyons, Agnieszka Paczynska, and Hazel McFerson (PIA)

This dissertation focuses on how the strategic interests of a hegemon within an African regional organization can significantly influence the outcome of a stabilization and peace process. It compares two case studies: Nigeria’s role in the intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Liberia; and Ethiopia’s role in the intervention by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Somalia. This dissertation argues that the divergent outcomes of these two peace processes are significantly influenced by the role and interest of a regional hegemon in the regional organization’s intervention. Both Nigeria in ECOWAS’s intervention in Liberia and Ethiopia in IGAD’s intervention in Somalia prioritized their interests and attempted to maintain the prestige associated with their leadership positions in their region and at international forums.